23.1 C
Surat
Monday, February 10, 2025
23.1 C
Surat
Monday, February 10, 2025

Govt forms panel to assess need for UCC, draft a bill


Gandhinagar: The Gujarat govt on Tuesday announced the formation of a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to “assess the need for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state and also draft a bill for the same”.
The govt claimed that if implemented, the UCC will ensure that the rights of tribal communities are protected and do not come into conflict with provisions of the Disturbed Areas Act.
“The govt has decided to form a committee to assess the need for a Uniform Civil Code and to prepare a draft bill. It will be headed by Justice Ranjana Desai, a former judge of the Supreme Court,” CM Bhupendra Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar. Patel said his govt is committed to fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to implement the UCC across the country.
Other members of the committee are retired IAS officer C L Meena, advocate R C Kodekar, former vice-chancellor of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Dakshesh Thakar and social worker Gita Shroff.
Minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi said the committee will hold consultations with all stakeholders, including leaders of religious communities. He added that if implemented, the UCC will protect the rights of tribals and will not come into conflict with the provisions of the Disturbed Areas Act.
“The UCC implemented by Uttarakhand protects the customs and traditions of tribals. Union home minister Amit Shah also clarified in Jharkhand that UCC will protect the traditions followed by tribals,” Sanghavi said.
Opposition leaders claimed the announcement is an attempt by the BJP to divert people’s attention from infighting in the party ahead of the local body polls.
Congress leader Amit Chavda said the BJP is more interested in the “politics of minority and majority”. “In Gujarat, tribals account for 14 per cent of the population. The UCC will affect the culture, customs, religious rites and marriage system. Similarly, the Jain community of Gujarat and the Devipujaks will also be affected,” Chavda said, adding that the Constitution has given freedom to certain communities to pursue their customs and culture.
Aam Aadmi Party state president Isudan Gadhvi said, “Even today, 80% of domestic disputes in the Maldhari community are resolved by its own leaders. There is polygamy in tribal society, and it will end if the UCC is implemented. The UCC is going to be a hindrance for Christians, Sikhs and Muslims,” he claimed.
AIMIM leader Danish Siddique said the UCC was being used to target the Muslim community. If tribals are kept outside the proposed law, it would not be a uniform code, he said. “When BJP targets Muslims over polygamy, it should know this is prevalent in other communities too. When one community is allowed (polygamy) and others are not, then it is not UCC,” he asserted.
Committee member Gita Shroff said, “In the past 30 years, I have seen the difficulties faced by women and children in their fight for justice. UCC will help resolve this,” she said. Another committee member Dakshesh Thakar said, “Even the Constituent Assembly framed guiding principles which have provisions for this.”
State Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said, “What Gujarat needs is uniform codes for service, education and health so people get paid equally for equal work and everyone has access to affordable education and healthcare.”





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