Raipur, April 15 -- Under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the Chhattisgarh Cabinet on Wednesday took a series of important decisions at Mantralaya (Mahanadi Bhawan), aimed at strengthening governance, promoting social equity, and accelerating economic development in Chhattisgarh.
The Cabinet approved the constitution of a high-level committee under the chairpersonship of retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to prepare a draft for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. Chief Minister has been authorised to nominate members of the committee.
At present, matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, maintenance, and family disputes are governed by separate personal laws across religions. As envisaged under Article 44 of the Constitution of India, the move towards a Uniform Civil Code is aimed at ensuring legal uniformity, simplifying judicial processes, and promoting religious as well as gender equality.
The committee will undertake extensive consultations with citizens, organisations, and subject experts, and may also invite feedback through a dedicated web portal. The draft prepared on the basis of these recommendations will be placed before the Cabinet and subsequently introduced in the State Assembly following due legal procedures.
In a progressive step towards women's empowerment, the Cabinet approved a 50 per cent reduction in registration fees for property registered in the name of women. While this decision is expected to result in a revenue loss of approximately Rs 153 crore to the state exchequer, it is seen as a vital measure to encourage asset ownership among women and enhance their financial independence.
The Cabinet has taken important decision in the larger interest of serving soldiers, ex-servicemen, and their widows by approving a 25 per cent concession in stamp duty on the purchase of property (land or building) up to Rs 25 lakh within the state, once in their lifetime. Recognising the transient nature of military service, the decision seeks to provide financial relief as they establish permanent residences.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.