West Bengal forms expert panel to examine draft UCC bill; legislation likely to be tabled in August Assembly session
Kolkata, July 11
The West Bengal government has constituted a nine-member expert committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine and finalise the draft Uniform Civil Code, with the state government planning to introduce the legislation during the upcoming August Assembly session.
The proposed legislation will exempt indigenous communities, according to the state government.
The committee comprises legal experts, former judges, bureaucrats and representatives from the social sector, who will examine various aspects of the draft law before submitting their recommendations.
The panel includes three former judges from the Supreme Court or High Court, one constitutional expert, one former bureaucrat and two members from the social sector.
The committee is headed by former Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and includes former Bombay High Court Justice RC Chavan, former High Court Justice SG Mehere, former Chief Secretary of Maharashtra DK Jain, former Advocate General of Maharashtra Birendra Saraf, social activist Padmashri Ramesh Patange, and educationist Suvarna Rawal as core members.
Speaking in Baruipur, West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said, "A committee headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai has been formed. It will begin its work and submit its findings soon. The UCC (Uniform Civil Code) has been implemented in the state. It is one nation, so there will be one law. There cannot be two sets of laws. It is crystal clear."
Earlier in June, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced in the Assembly that the draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be introduced in the state Assembly during its August session.
The Chief Minister said the state government has initiated the process for enacting the Uniform Civil Code and is committed to taking the legislation forward after completing the necessary procedural steps.
According to the Chief Minister, the committee comprises experts from different fields, including legal luminaries and educationists, who will examine various aspects of the proposed law before submitting their recommendations.
The move comes at a time when discussions on the UCC have gained momentum across the country. Uttarakhand became the first state after Independence to enact a Uniform Civil Code, and its experience is expected to be closely studied by Maharashtra while preparing its own draft.
Meanwhile, in May, Assam passed its UCC Bill, aiming to establish a single civil legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships irrespective of religion.
— ANI
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