The Gujarat government, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is set to announce a committee to explore the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state today. The committee is likely to be headed by a retired High Court judge and will study the legal and social aspects of UCC before preparing a report.
Cabinet approval and next steps
Once the committee is formed, the cabinet will approve it tomorrow. After this step, the Gujarat government will introduce the UCC Bill in the state assembly, moving closer to implementing uniform laws for marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.
Why is Gujarat bringing UCC?
Uttarakhandrecently implemented theĀ Uniform Civil Code (UCC), becoming the second state after Goa to introduce common laws for all citizens, no matter their religion. This law includes rules for registering marriages, banning polygamy (having multiple spouses), and making the divorce process the same for everyone. It also requires couples in live-in relationships to register their status, and if one person is under 21 years old, they must have parental consent.
Now, Gujarat is taking steps toward introducing its own UCC. The goal is to create equal laws for everyone, especially ensuring gender equality and clear legal rules. However, just like in Uttarakhand, the UCC may not apply to Scheduled Tribes.
This decision is a major step towards bringing a Uniform Civil Code to Gujarat. In the coming days, the government will finalise the details and decide how the law will be implemented in the state.
Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
The Uniform Civil Code means that the same laws will apply to everyone, no matter their religion. It will make rules for things like marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and property sharing equal for all. This idea is to ensure fairness and keep religion separate from everyday laws.
Read: Uttarakhand to implement UCC in January 2025 becomes first state since independence