New Delhi: The newly elected government in West Bengal has set an August timeline for moving forward with the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), while stressing that the process will involve detailed consultations and legal review before the legislation reaches the Assembly.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that the draft UCC proposal will first be discussed by the state cabinet on July 2. A specially constituted committee will then examine the proposal and submit its recommendations before the bill is introduced in the legislature.
The government has clarified that tribal communities will remain outside the scope of the proposed law. Any objections, suggestions or concerns raised by citizens and stakeholders will be reviewed by the committee during the consultation process.
To oversee the exercise, the administration has formed a panel headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai. The committee also includes a retired IAS officer, a legal expert, a social worker, an educationist and an additional secretary general.
The panel has been tasked with conducting a detailed study of existing personal and family laws in the state, including provisions related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and live in relationships. The committee is expected to complete its work within four weeks.
If implemented, West Bengal would become the fourth state in the country to adopt a Uniform Civil Code framework. The move is expected to trigger intense political debate, with opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, likely to challenge aspects of the proposal.
The UCC was one of the major promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party during the state election campaign, and the government has reiterated its commitment to fulfilling that pledge after completing the consultation process.
