Panel to study aspects of UCC implementation in MP

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh govt has constituted a six-member committee to study issues related to the implementation of Uniform Civil Code in the state. The committee would submit a report to the state govt in 60 days. The MP govt said matters related to various personal and family laws—such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, and other related subjects—are currently being administered under separate provisions. There was a need to review these subjects and develop a practical legal framework that ensures clarity among citizens. With this objective, a high-level committee was constituted to examine the issue of Uniform Civil Code in MP, the govt said in its orders on Monday. The task of the committee includes studying the various personal/family laws prevailing in the state, including provisions related to marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption, and live-in relationships. The committee, to be headed by a retired SC judge, would examine the UCC model adopted by Uttarakhand and Gujarat. It will hold public hearings, consultation meetings as required to ensure broad participation, besides to consider provisions in the proposed framework for the protection and security of women and children. The committee would also provide suggestions regarding regulation of live-in relationships, registration, and rights/obligations arising from them and will examine legal aspects of the proposed legislation to avoid future complications. The committee would submit a draft bill and a detailed report to the state govt within 60 days, which indicated that the govt may try to bring in UCC bill in the monsoon session of state assembly, though there was no confirmation on it. This was the third development on UCC in the state in a fortnight. The newly constituted 13-member MP BJP core committee in its first meeting on April 14 reviewed groundwork for the proposed UCC in the state. Before that on April 13, the MP cabinet gave its nod to constitute a committee for preparing the draft of UCC, following which it was constituted. UCC attracted national attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for enactment of UCC while addressing BJP workers in Bhopal on June 27, 2023.