Marathon meeting with stakeholders on for Uniform Civil Code implementation in MP
Bhopal, June 22
In a significant development towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Madhya Pradesh, a high-level committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai is holding extensive consultations with stakeholders.
The marathon meetings, that began on Monday morning and will last till the evening at the Naronha Administration Academy in Bhopal, are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the final draft of the UCC Bill.
Representatives from various commissions, political parties, religious leaders, and senior administrative officials are participating to provide their inputs and address concerns.
The committee has invited members from the Women's Commission, Children's Commission, SC Commission, Backward Classes Commission, and Minorities Commission to share their suggestions.
In the afternoon session, representatives of recognised political parties will present their views, followed by discussions with religious leaders in the evening.
Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Secretaries from all departments have also been called to attend meetings.
The Home Department is set to make detailed presentations on law-and-order and administrative aspects, while other departments will brief the committee on subjects relevant to their domains.
According to sources, the committee has already received approximately thousands of suggestions through online portals, public hearings, and other channels.
These inputs are being thoroughly studied to ensure that the interests and concerns of all sections of society are adequately addressed in the draft.
Once the committee finalises its report following Monday's deliberations, it will be submitted to the state government.
A senior secretaries' committee headed by Chief Secretary Anurag Jain will then scrutinise the recommendations.
The proposal will subsequently be placed before the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for approval.
If cleared by the Cabinet, the UCC Bill is likely to be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, which begins on July 20.
The development marks a crucial milestone in the state government's efforts to bring a Uniform Civil Code, aimed at promoting equality and uniformity in personal laws across communities.
The committee's inclusive approach reflects a serious attempt to build consensus on this sensitive issue.
Stakeholders hope that the final draft will balance progressive reforms with respect for diverse cultural and religious traditions prevalent in the state.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some action on this! Our country needs common personal laws for everyone, irrespective of religion. But I hope they respect cultural differences and don't impose anything hastily. The committee seems to be doing thorough work by involving so many stakeholders. Let's see if they can strike the right balance.
Very glad to see MP government taking this seriously. UCC is long overdue for a progressive India. But I'm a bit worried about the reaction from conservative sections. Hope the committee has thought about how to handle potential pushback. The fact that they're consulting religious leaders is a good start.
I am cautiously optimistic. The idea of uniform civil code is good in principle, but implementation needs to be very careful. Personal laws are deeply tied to religion and culture. If they force it down people's throats, it might create more problems. The inclusive approach they're taking gives me some hope though. Let's see the actual draft.
As a woman, I think UCC could be a game-changer for gender equality in personal laws. So many women suffer under regressive personal laws in the name of religion. But I'm worried that the implementation might not be so straightforward. They should ensure it doesn't dilute progressive aspects of any community's personal laws while bringing uniformity.
This is a complex issue. On one hand, UCC makes sense for national integration. On the other, India's strength is its diversity. I just hope the committee doesn't take a one-size-fits-all approach. The fact that they've invited all commissions - Women, Children, SC, BC, Minorities - is reassuring. Genuine consultation is key to making this
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