Former Supreme Court Judge to Lead West Bengal's Uniform Civil Code Drafting Committee

The West Bengal government on Monday announced the formation of a committee to draft a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the state. Former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai will head the panel, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed.

The draft UCC Bill is expected to be placed before the state cabinet on July 2, after which it will be tabled in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The proposed legislation aims to establish a common civil framework governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, applicable to all citizens irrespective of religion.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Samik Bhattacharya sought to clarify the party's position, stating that constitutionally protected tribal communities would remain outside the ambit of the UCC. In a post on social media platform X, Bhattacharya said, 'The BJP's position on the UCC is longstanding and unequivocal. It is part of our political commitment and election manifesto.' He also rejected allegations linking the proposed law to family-size regulation, calling such claims 'neither the objective nor a part of the UCC'.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the BJP of using the legislation as a political tool rather than pursuing genuine legal reform. TMC chairperson and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed the party to mount an aggressive resistance to the Bill both inside and outside the Assembly. A senior TMC leader argued that the proposal raises fundamental questions about constitutional morality, social consent, and India's pluralistic character. 'The question is whether the UCC is genuinely being brought for the welfare of citizens and constitutional values, or whether it is being used as an instrument of political polarisation,' the leader said.

The development marks a significant step in West Bengal's political landscape, with the ruling TMC and opposition BJP staking out contrasting positions on the contentious issue.