Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated on Tuesday that the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state will be decided after discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. His remarks came in response to a question on whether Maharashtra would follow Uttarakhand and Gujarat, where a panel has been formed to examine the UCC.
Statement Of Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde
Responding to a query about whether Maharashtra would adopt the UCC like Uttarakhand and Gujarat, Shinde said: “Our CM Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, and I will sit together to discuss this and make a decision,” reported ANI.
Gujarat Govt Constitute A Five-Member Committee
Meanwhile, the Gujarat government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has constituted a five-member committee to assess the need for a UCC and draft a bill accordingly. The panel is headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated that the committee will submit its report within 45 days, after which a decision on implementation will be taken.
“To evaluate the necessity of a Uniform Civil Code and prepare a draft bill, we have decided to form a committee under a former Supreme Court judge,” CM Patel told reporters, as quoted by PTI. He added that religious leaders, including those from the Muslim community, would be consulted before finalizing the report.
About The Committee
The committee comprises retired IAS officer C.L. Meena, advocate R.C. Kodekar, former vice-chancellor of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Dakshesh Thakar, and social worker Gita Shroff. Patel emphasized that Uttarakhand has already implemented the UCC and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a nationwide UCC. Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, asserted that the UCC would protect the rights of tribal communities.
