Mumbai: The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Sunday approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, paving the way for its introduction during the state’s five-day monsoon session of the legislative assembly beginning on July 20.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the decision after a special cabinet meeting held in Jagdishpur on the outskirts of Bhopal, describing the proposed legislation as a major reform aimed at promoting gender equality, social harmony and legal uniformity across the state.
UCC Bill Covers Marriage, Live-in Relationships and Inheritance
The proposed Uniform Civil Code seeks to establish a common legal framework for personal and family matters, including marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, inheritance, adoption, surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology (ART).
According to the chief minister, the legislation mandates marriage registration for all eligible couples. It also retains the existing legal marriageable age of 21 years for men and 18 years for women.
The draft law further provides equal legal status to children born through marriage, live-in relationships, adoption, surrogacy and ART, ensuring they receive equal rights under the law.
Scheduled Tribes Exempted from UCC
One of the key features of the proposed legislation is the exclusion of Scheduled Tribes (Adivasis) from its scope.
The exemption follows recommendations made by a government-appointed committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. The panel recently submitted its final report to the chief minister after studying personal laws, customs and family-related practices across Madhya Pradesh.
The committee examined issues related to marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships while preparing the draft in accordance with the state’s social, cultural and economic conditions.
Mohan Yadav Appeals for Political Consensus
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav urged all political parties to support the proposed law, saying it is intended to strengthen women’s empowerment, national unity and social harmony.
He also claimed that around 80 per cent of Muslim women and 40 per cent of Muslim men who appeared before the committee expressed support for the proposed legislation.
Criticising the Congress, Yadav alleged that the party chose not to participate in the consultation process, while the BJP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Left parties submitted their views before the committee.
Committee Received Over 9.58 Lakh Public Suggestions
The report prepared by the Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai-led committee is divided into three sections.
The first section contains recommendations across 10 chapters, analysing legal systems and traditions at the international, national and state levels while suggesting reforms suitable for Madhya Pradesh.
The second section includes the draft UCC Bill itself, consisting of four parts, 404 sections and seven schedules. The draft has been prepared after examining the laws and legal framework currently applicable in the state.
The third section presents the findings of an extensive public consultation exercise carried out through district-level meetings, state-wide campaigns and an online portal.
According to the government, the committee received more than 9.58 lakh public suggestions, which were analysed on the basis of individual questions, gender identity and community representation before finalising the recommendations.
UCC Bill to Be Introduced During Monsoon Session
The Madhya Pradesh government will introduce the Uniform Civil Code Bill during the monsoon session of the state assembly, which begins on Monday, July 20.
If passed, Madhya Pradesh will become one of the few Indian states to implement a Uniform Civil Code, following Uttarakhand, which became the first state in independent India to enforce a UCC. The proposed legislation is expected to trigger significant debate both inside and outside the assembly over its legal, social and constitutional implications.
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