Madhya Pradesh to Introduce Uniform Civil Code Draft in Upcoming Assembly Session
Madhya Pradesh Government's Announcement on UCC
On Tuesday, the Madhya Pradesh government revealed that the draft bill for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be presented in the upcoming monsoon session of the state assembly, following approval from a special cabinet meeting on July 18. This announcement was made by Cabinet Minister Chetanya Kumar Kashyap after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at the state secretariat in Bhopal. The timing of this announcement coincides with the submission of the final report by the high-level committee on the UCC to the Chief Minister.
Kashyap stated that the Chief Minister informed the cabinet that the committee established for the UCC had submitted its comprehensive report. This report was compiled after consultations with various individuals and groups across the state who may be affected by the UCC. Additionally, it includes an analysis of laws from other states and their implementation experiences. The Chief Minister is committed to presenting the bill in the assembly and ensuring its swift implementation in Madhya Pradesh. A special cabinet meeting will take place in Jagdishpur on July 18, where the council of ministers will approve the UCC draft before it is introduced in the assembly. The monsoon session is scheduled to run from July 20 to July 24.
The committee has recommended excluding Scheduled Tribes from the proposed UCC. According to an official statement, the high-level committee submitted its report within the stipulated timeframe. The report is divided into three sections: the first section contains recommendations based on an analysis of international, national, and state laws and practices, presented in ten chapters; the second section includes the draft bill prepared according to Madhya Pradesh laws, comprising 404 clauses and seven schedules; and the third section provides information on extensive public consultations conducted at the district and state levels, as well as through a dedicated website.
The consultation process garnered responses from over 958,000 individuals, which were analyzed in detail based on questionnaires, gender, and community. The committee was tasked with reviewing the existing legal framework related to marriage, divorce, alimony, inheritance, adoption, and live-in relationships, taking into account the social, cultural, and economic conditions of Madhya Pradesh.