Preparation to implement Uniform Civil Code in Maharashtra intensifies, expert committee will soon be formed for the draft

Mumbai: Preparations to implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Maharashtra now seem to be gaining momentum. The state government is planning to take a big step in this direction. According to the information, a special committee will soon be formed to draft the law related to UCC. The objective of the government is to prepare such a draft, on the basis of which the process of implementing Uniform Civil Code in the state can be taken forward in future. It is believed that the coming few weeks may prove important in this matter.

According to government officials, the Maharashtra government may constitute a committee within the next two weeks to draft the Uniform Civil Code. At present, formal preparations related to the formation of the committee are going on. However, the final decision on which experts will be included in the committee and what will be its responsibilities is yet to be taken. Officials say that after the committee is formed, it will study various legal aspects and submit a detailed draft to the state government. After this the further process will be decided.

The government had already given indications in the assembly

Earlier, Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam had clarified in the Assembly that the Maharashtra government is in favor of implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state. He had told that a committee will be formed under the chairmanship of a retired High Court judge to prepare the draft of the law. The government believes that the draft prepared on the basis of experts’ opinion and legal study will provide a strong basis to the further process.

What is Uniform Civil Code?

The purpose of the Uniform Civil Code is to apply uniform law to all citizens in certain personal matters. It includes topics like marriage, divorce, adoption process, inheritance and division of property. At present, different personal laws apply in these matters to people of different religions. Once UCC is implemented, a single legal system will be effective in all these matters, which will apply equally to all citizens.

Why is UCC considered important?

The basic objective of the Uniform Civil Code is to give equal rights and equal responsibilities to all citizens before the law. Its supporters believe that this will make the legal system more uniform and promote equality among citizens. Apart from this, gender equality is also considered an important aspect of UCC. It is believed that implementation of a uniform law can help in balancing the rights of women and men.

For this reason, this topic has been discussed for a long time and demands for its implementation have also been raised from time to time. If this law is implemented in Maharashtra, then different laws on the basis of religion or caste will not apply in matters like marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance and distribution of property. A uniform legal system will be implemented for all these subjects, due to which the same procedures and rules will be effective for all citizens.