Kolkata, June 29 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday asserted that his government remained committed to implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and announced that the draft Bill would be placed before the Cabinet on July 2.

Making a statement in the Assembly, Adhikari said the proposed legislation would be modelled on the UCC laws enacted or proposed in Uttarakhand, Assam and Gujarat rather than being drafted afresh.

"The draft Bill will be placed before the Cabinet on July 2. We had promised in our election manifesto that Bengal would have a UCC, and we are committed to implementing it," he said.

Adhikari said the proposed law would exempt tribal communities, Kurmis and indigenous groups to protect their customary practices, mirroring exemptions provided in other states. The government will constitute an expert committee headed by former Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to prepare the legal framework. The panel will comprise a retired IAS officer, a legal expert, an academic and a social worker, while an officer of the rank of Additional Secretary will serve as Member-Secretary.

According to the Chief Minister, the committee will examine existing personal and family laws governing marriage, divorce, maintenance, succession, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships, among other civil matters, before recommending a uniform legal framework for the state. The panel has been given four weeks to submit its report.

Adhikari said the government intended to introduce the UCC Bill in the Assembly after receiving the committee's recommendations and then implement the law in August.

Inviting Opposition members to participate in the consultation process, the Chief Minister said those with objections could submit written representations to the Justice Desai committee.

"If you have any specific objections, place them before the committee. But let me make it clear - implementing a Uniform Civil Code in Bengal was our electoral commitment, and we will fulfil that commitment," Adhikari said.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.