Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh Cabinet Approves Panel for Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Draft
- 16 Apr 2026
- 3 min read
Why in News?
On 15 April, 2026, the Chhattisgarh cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister approved the constitution of a high-level committee to prepare a draft for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
Key Points:
- The Drafting Committee Leadership: The panel will be headed by Justice (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai, a retired Supreme Court judge who also led the UCC drafting committee in Uttarakhand.
- Mandate: The committee is tasked with simplifying diverse personal laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption to promote religious and gender equality.
- Public Consultation: The panel will seek suggestions from citizens, legal experts, and stakeholders through various platforms, including a dedicated web portal, before submitting its final draft to the state assembly.
- Constitutional and Legal Basis: The state government cited Article 44 (Directive Principles of State Policy) of the Constitution, which directs the State to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens.
- Goal of Uniformity: Officials stated that the existence of multiple religion-based personal laws creates legal complexities and inequality in judicial processes.
- Political Contention: Threat to Tribal Rights: The opposition Congress and tribal bodies, such as the Chhattisgarh Sarva Adivasi Samaj (CSAS), have strongly criticised the move:
- Constitutional Protections: State Congress president Deepak Baij argued that the UCC would harm the interests of the state's tribal population (over 32%), who are protected under the Fifth Schedule and the PESA Act.
- Customary Laws: Critics contend that tribal identity is inextricably linked to unique customary rules governing birth, marriage, and property rights, which could be diluted by a uniform law.
- Alleged Industrial Interests: Congress has alleged that the push for UCC is a "conspiracy" to weaken tribal land rights to benefit industrial interests in regions like Bastar.
- Parallel Policy for Women's Empowerment: Alongside the UCC decision, the cabinet announced a 50% concession in property registration fees for assets registered in the name of women.
- Aim: This measure aims to encourage female property ownership and improve financial security across rural and urban areas.
| Read More: Uniform Civil Code |
