As Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav had made statement that Government is planning to implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by Diwali this year, the State Government has constituted a high-level committee to examine the feasibility of implementing the in the State. As per the order issued by the Law and Legislative Affairs Department later on Monday night, the committee will be chaired by Justice Ranjana Prasad Desai, former judge of the Supreme Court. Other members include retired IAS officer Shatrughna Singh, legal expert Anoop Nair, academician Gopal Sharma and social worker Budhpal Singh. Ajay Katesariya, Additional Secretary in the General Administration Department, has been appointed as the Secretary of the committee.

 

UCC pertains to a common set of personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships are currently governed by different personal and family laws. The panel will study models adopted by states such as Uttarakhand and Gujarat as both these states have already passed the legislation in this regard. The panel will taking into account the social, cultural and economic realities of Madhya Pradesh. The committee has been directed to submit its report, along with a draft bill, within 60 days. Notably, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav directed officials to prepare a draft bill within six months. Pushing Bharatiya Janata party’s long standing agenda of implementation of Uniform Civil Code in the State, the Government on several occasions made it clear to go with this by Diwali.