Gujarat Appoints Panel for Uniform Civil Code Draft

The Gujarat government has recently taken a significant step by appointing a panel to draft the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the state. This panel, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai, is tasked with preparing a detailed report within 45 days regarding the UCC’s potential implementation. The formation of the committee marks an important move toward the government’s aim of ensuring equal rights for all citizens, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a uniform law across India.

Key Points

Panel Formation

• Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the formation of the five-member panel on February 4, 2025, which will be responsible for preparing the draft of the Uniform Civil Code for the state.

Panel Composition

• The panel will be chaired by Retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Desai.
• Other members include Retired IAS Officer CL Meena, Advocate RC Kodekar, Educationist Daxesh Thakar, and Social Worker Gita Shroff.

Timeline for Submission

• The committee is expected to submit its report within 45 days, outlining the implementation plan for the UCC.

Statement from CM Gujarat

• Bhupendra Patel emphasized the importance of the Constitution as the “sacred text” and referred to “Indianness” as the guiding principle behind this decision.
• He stated that this move would help ensure equal rights and opportunities for all citizens.

Context and Background

• The decision follows a similar move by the Uttarakhand government, which introduced UCC rules in January 2025 to regulate live-in relationships.
• Gujarat’s move is seen as part of a larger initiative to implement a uniform set of laws that apply equally to all citizens, irrespective of their personal laws based on religion, community, or belief.

Future Steps

• Once the committee submits its report, the state government will review the draft and make decisions regarding the implementation of the UCC in Gujarat.

UCC in India

• The concept of UCC aims to standardize laws related to marriage, inheritance, divorce, and adoption, irrespective of religious beliefs.
• It has been a topic of debate for several years, with proponents arguing that it would promote gender equality and social justice.
• Uttarakhand UCC Adoption: The state of Uttarakhand recently introduced UCC Rules for live-in relationships, further highlighting the movement toward UCC across India.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	Gujarat Appoints Panel for Uniform Civil Code Draft
Panel Formation	Five-member panel formed by Gujarat government.
Chairperson	Retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Desai.
Other Panel Members	CL Meena (Retired IAS Officer), RC Kodekar (Advocate), Daxesh Thakar (Educationist), Gita Shroff (Social Worker).
Objective of Panel	To assess the need for UCC and draft a bill for its implementation in Gujarat.
Timeline	Report to be submitted within 45 days.
Statement from CM	Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel supports UCC as a step toward equal rights and “Indianness”.
Context	Gujarat’s move follows Uttarakhand’s introduction of UCC Rules for live-in relationships.
Next Steps	After the report is submitted, Gujarat will decide on UCC implementation.
Potential Impact of UCC	Standardized laws on marriage, inheritance, divorce, and adoption for all citizens.
UCC in India	Aimed at promoting gender equality and equal rights for all citizens.