JAGDISHPUR :

 

TERMING Cabinet’s decision historical, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav after the meeting announced that equality will be prevailed in the State where‘Ram, Rahim, Ravinder and Robin, will have same rights’ and the Cabinet unanimously approved the draft of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the Cabinet meeting held at Jagdishpur, a historic town near Bhopal, once known as Islamnagar. Now, the draft will be introduced in the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly beginning on Monday. Interacting with the mediapersons after the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted main provisions of UCC draft stating that the legislation proposes common laws for marriage, divorce, maintenance, and inheritance. Polygamy will not be valid in the State. Divorce will have to follow a legal process. Women and men will get equal inheritance rights. Registration of live-in relationships will be mandatory within one month. Marriage registration will be compulsory up to the village level. Tribal communities have been kept outside the scope of this law. Replying to ‘The Hitavada’s’ query about the preparations, Dr Yadav said the exercise was going since long time and a sixmember panel led by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and other members was set up to draft the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the State, feedback was taken from the public for two months, and opinions were taken from all sections of society (remarkably, Congress party did not participate during the feedback meeting held in the past).

 

The committee submitted its report to Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on July 13. A total of 9.58 lakh suggestions were received and more than 93 per cent of people supported this law. He also said, 80 per cent of Muslim women and 40 per cent of Muslim men were also in favour of a common law. Pointing out the significance of the venue, the Chief Minister said, “Rani Kamalapati, who defended her dignity in difficult times, linked the present decision to the spirit of sacrifice and national pride embedded in the soil of Jagdishpur. The decision to hold the meeting here is a tribute to the State’s glorious past and a step towards ensuring equality for all citizens.” Jagdishpur (formerly Islamnagar) is a site of immense historical and architectural significance. Established as a fortified settlement by Gond rulers in the 15th century, it later served as the original capital of the Bhopal princely State under Dost Mohammad Khan. Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Assam have already enacted UCC legislation and now Madhya Pradesh is going to be the fourth state to implement the said bill. The Chief Minister quoted “The decision to implement the Uniform Civil Code is historic. For Madhya Pradesh, today will be remembered as a golden day in the State’s history. The bill is aimed at upholding women’s dignity, ensuring equal rights and ending discriminatory practices.”