Chhattisgarh Moves Closer To Adopting UCC, Forms Panel To Prepare Draft Framework

Last Updated:April 16, 2026, 10:15 IST

Chhattisgarh has moved a step closer to adopting the Uniform Civil Code by constituting a high-level committee to prepare a draft framework.

Chhattisgarh may emerge as the next state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) after the state cabinet decided to constitute a high-level committee to prepare a draft framework for its rollout.

The panel will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, according to a statement issued after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.

The government said the proposed UCC aims at “simplifying laws to promote religious and gender equality", underlining the need for a common legal framework governing personal matters.

At present, issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, maintenance and family disputes are regulated by different personal laws depending on religious practices.

The state government said, “The existence of multiple personal laws creates inequality in legal processes and makes the justice system more complex".

The statement also referred to Article 44 of the Constitution, which directs the state to work towards securing a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens.

PANEL TO CONSULT STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE FINALISING DRAFT

According to the government, the committee will hold consultations with various sections of society, organisations and experts before preparing its recommendations.

Suggestions may also be invited from the public through a dedicated web portal.

Based on the panel’s recommendations, a draft proposal will be placed before the cabinet for approval.

Once cleared, the government is expected to introduce the proposed legislation in the state assembly to create a uniform civil legal framework.

Chief Minister Sai said the committee will consult all stakeholders before preparing a roadmap for the implementation of the UCC in the state.

“The panel will consult all sections of society and senior representatives of various organisations before preparing a framework on how the UCC can be implemented in the state," he said.

The Chief Minister has been authorised to nominate members of the committee that will assist in drafting the framework.

CONGRESS TERMS MOVE ‘THREAT TO TRIBAL RIGHTS’

The opposition Congress criticised the decision, alleging that the proposed move could adversely impact tribal communities in the state.

State Congress president Deepak Baij said tribals constitute more than 32 per cent of Chhattisgarh’s population and enjoy constitutional protections that could be affected if a uniform law is introduced.

“If the UCC is implemented in Chhattisgarh, tribals will suffer the most. It is against their interests," Baij said.

He pointed to safeguards available under provisions such as the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), which protect tribal land and governance rights.

Baij also expressed concern about the implications of the UCC for particularly vulnerable tribal groups, including Baiga, Kamar, Pahadi Korwa, Birhor, Abujhmadia, Bhunjia and Pando, and questioned whether their constitutional protections would remain intact.

He further alleged that after the decline of Naxalism in Bastar, industrial interests are increasingly looking at tribal lands, linking the push for the UCC to attempts to weaken tribal land rights.

“The BJP is conspiring to weaken the fundamental rights of tribals by bringing in the UCC. Any attempt to tamper with constitutional protections will not be tolerated," he said.

UTTARAKHAND IMPLEMENTED UCC IN 2025

The move comes after Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to formally implement the Uniform Civil Code in January 2025.

More recently, the Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, signalling growing traction for a common civil law framework at the state level.

The Chhattisgarh government maintains that the proposed UCC is intended to ensure equality and simplify legal processes, while the opposition continues to raise concerns over the protection of tribal customs and constitutional safeguards.

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