NEW DELHI: Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday announced the formation of a five-member committee to draft the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the state.
The panel, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai, has been tasked with preparing the draft and submitting its report to the state government within 45 days. The government will take a final decision based on the committee’s recommendations.
Announcing the decision, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel said, “The committee will submit its report to the state government in 45 days, based on which the government will take a decision.”
The move comes in the wake of Uttarakhand making history as the first Indian state to implement the UCC. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently launched a dedicated portal and issued a notification marking the adoption of the civil code.
The UCC aims to standardise personal laws across religions, covering matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships. It seeks to ensure equal property rights, protect children’s rights, and impose penalties for non-compliance.
Under the UCC, legal provisions for marriage specify that only mentally capable individuals who are at least 21 years old (for men) or 18 years old (for women) and not already married can enter into a union. While marriages can still be performed according to religious customs, registration will be mandatory for legal recognition. The law also outlines regulations concerning the creation and cancellation of wills and codicils under testamentary succession.
Additionally, marriages solemnized before March 26, 2010, or those conducted outside the state, will be eligible for registration provided they meet legal requirements.