Gujarat UCC panel holds key meet in Surat, seeks feedback

IANS April 3, 2025 163 views

Gujarat's UCC committee chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai held crucial discussions in Surat to gather public feedback. The panel aims to draft uniform personal laws for marriage, divorce, and inheritance across religions. This follows Uttarakhand's recent implementation of UCC, making Gujarat the next potential adopter. The state government plans to introduce a bill after finalizing recommendations from legal experts and community stakeholders.

"The UCC aims to bring uniformity, gender equality, and social justice in personal laws" – Gujarat Government
Surat, April 3: The Gujarat government on Thursday initiated discussions on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a legal reform aimed at ensuring uniform personal laws for all citizens, irrespective of religion, with a key committee meeting in Surat.

Key Points

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Justice Ranjana Desai chairs Gujarat's UCC panel meeting in Surat

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Committee gathers inputs from legal experts and religious groups

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UCC seeks to unify marriage, inheritance laws across religions

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Gujarat follows Uttarakhand's lead in pushing for uniform civil code

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Surat District Collector, where representatives from various organisations presented their views and suggestions on the UCC. The meeting was attended by Justice Ranjana Desai (Retired Supreme Court Judge and Chairperson of the UCC Committee), Advocate R.C. Koddekar (Committee Member), former Vice-Chancellor Dakshesh Thakar (Committee Member), and social activist Geetaben Shroff (Committee Member).

The discussions focused on understanding different perspectives, concerns, and recommendations from various stakeholders before drafting a final proposal.

Gujarat is among the states actively working towards implementing the UCC, following the footsteps of Uttarakhand, which recently became the first state in India to pass a UCC bill.

The Gujarat government had earlier announced the formation of an expert committee to study and recommend a framework for UCC implementation. This committee has been gathering inputs from legal experts, social organisations, and religious bodies to ensure a balanced and inclusive approach.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) proposes a common set of laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for all citizens, regardless of religious beliefs.

Currently, personal laws in India differ based on religion -- Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and other communities -- have separate legal frameworks. The UCC aims to bring uniformity, gender equality, and social justice in personal laws, reducing discrimination and legal complexities. The UCC will streamline multiple personal laws into a single legal framework, ensuring equal treatment for all citizens. It will help eliminate gender-based discrimination prevalent in certain religious personal laws, especially in matters of marriage, divorce, and inheritance.

By unifying personal laws, UCC seeks to promote national integration and reduce communal legal disparities.

A single code for all will make legal procedures more efficient and reduce litigation arising from conflicting personal laws. The Gujarat government, through its expert committee, will continue to collect opinions from various communities, legal experts, and social organisations before drafting a final proposal for UCC implementation. Once the recommendations are finalised, the government may introduce a bill in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly for further deliberation and approval.

Reader Comments

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Priya M.
This is such an important step forward for gender equality in India! 👏 The current system where women have different rights based on religion just isn't fair. Hope they consult widely before finalizing anything though.
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Rahul K.
While I support the concept of UCC, I hope the committee pays special attention to minority concerns. One-size-fits-all approach might not work for our diverse society. The consultation process needs to be truly inclusive.
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Sunita P.
Finally! My sister had to fight for years to get her rightful share in property because of outdated personal laws. This reform is long overdue 💜
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Amit D.
Interesting to see Gujarat taking the lead on this. The committee seems well-balanced with legal experts and activists. Hope they can find a middle ground that respects diversity while ensuring equality.
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Neha T.
I attended one of these consultation meetings last month! It was great to see people from all communities sharing their views respectfully. More states should follow Gujarat's example.
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Karan J.
The implementation will be challenging but necessary. Currently, legal procedures are too complicated with different laws for different religions. Simplification is welcome!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Gujarat UCC Uniform Civil Code Justice Ranjana Desai Surat meeting personal law reform
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