Madhya Pradesh Sets Up Panel to Draft Uniform Civil Code Bill in 60 Days

The Madhya Pradesh government has accelerated work on implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state by constituting a six-member committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to draft a proposed bill and submit recommendations within 60 days, officials said on Tuesday.

According to a notification issued late on Monday night, the panel will be chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prasad Desai and will include a retired IAS officer, a legal expert, an academician, a social worker, and a senior government official. The committee has been tasked with examining existing personal laws and suggesting a framework for uniform provisions governing marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, and related social customs .

The government said there is a growing need for a uniform legal framework to ensure consistency and equality in personal law matters. The panel has been directed to study practices across different communities, review existing models implemented or explored in other states, and ensure that recommendations align with Madhya Pradesh’s social, cultural, and economic context .

As part of its mandate, the committee will also invite suggestions and objections from stakeholders and ensure that the proposed framework protects the rights of women and children while remaining legally robust and free from procedural ambiguities.

The UCC push comes amid renewed national debate on the subject. Uttarakhand has already implemented a Uniform Civil Code, becoming the first state in independent India to operationalise such a law. States like Gujarat have constituted expert committees to examine the feasibility of a UCC, while others, including Assam, have also expressed intent to explore similar frameworks. In contrast, Goa continues to follow a form of uniform civil law derived from the Portuguese Civil Code.

The Madhya Pradesh panel has been instructed to complete its work within the stipulated timeframe and submit a comprehensive report that could form the basis of future legislation in the state.