Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approves draft Uniform Civil Code Bill
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved the draft Uniform Civil Code Bill, which excludes the tribal community and covers marriage, adoption, inheritance and live-in relationships. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the Bill will be introduced during the Monsoon Session of the Assembly
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Sunday approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announcing that it will be introduced during the state Assembly’s Monsoon Session beginning on July 21.
The proposed Bill, which excludes the tribal community, covers diverse aspects, including marriage, live-in relationships, adoption and inheritance.
Addressing reporters after the special Cabinet meeting held in Jagdishpur on the outskirts of the state capital, Yadav described the legislation as an important step towards women’s empowerment.
He stated that about 80 per cent of Muslim women and 40 per cent of Muslim men supported the Bill before the committee formed to draft it.
The marriageable age for men is 21 years and for women 18 years, he said, adding that marriage registration is mandatory under the UCC.
Yadav further called on all political parties to rise above party politics and support the Bill, which aims to strengthen social harmony, women’s empowerment and national unity.
While the BJP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Left parties presented their views before the committee, the Congress, which sees every issue from a Hindu-Muslim and vote bank perspective, abstained from doing so, he claimed.
Yadav said the legislation provides equal legal status to all children born through marriage, live-in relationships, adoption, surrogacy and ART (assisted reproductive technology).
A government-appointed committee, constituted to draft a Uniform Civil Code for Madhya Pradesh and headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, recently submitted its report to the Chief Minister, recommending that Scheduled Tribes (adivasis) be excluded from the purview of the UCC.
The high-level panel was tasked with studying the prevailing systems related to various personal and family matters, such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships.
Accordingly, the committee prepared a draft in accordance with the social, cultural and economic conditions of Madhya Pradesh.
The panel worked towards ensuring gender equality, ensuring various ceremonial practices remain unaffected, respecting prevalent customs and practices, and adhering to constitutional provisions and public policy, an earlier statement said.
The Chief Minister said the Bill will be introduced in the five-day Monsoon Session of the Legislative Assembly, which begins on Monday.
The committee’s report has been divided into three sections, with the first containing its recommendations, followed by a draft of the proposed Bill, while the third comprises the public consultation report.
The first section, with 10 chapters, contains the committee’s recommendations, which analyse laws and traditions prevalent at the international, national and state levels and provide suggestions.
In the second part, the panel has presented a draft Bill, which it prepared after taking into account the laws and regulations applicable in Madhya Pradesh. The proposed Bill comprises four parts, 404 sections and seven schedules.
The third section contains a public consultation report providing a detailed account of the suggestions received through district, state and website campaigns.
The committee received over 9.58 lakh suggestions, which have been analysed question-wise, by gender identity and by community.
