Raipur: Chhattisgarh’s proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) moved another step forward with an extensive consultation held in Raipur on August 27. Representatives of religious and social organizations, statutory commissions, corporations, boards, and various community groups shared their views and suggestions with the state’s UCC committee.
The consultation was held at the New Circuit House in the state capital in the presence of committee members and experts, including retired IAS officers Shatrughan Singh and M.K. Raut, senior advocate Mohan Pawar, retired principal Jyoti Rani Singh and Member Secretary Shyam Dhawde.
The meeting formed part of the committee’s ongoing exercise to gather views from different sections of society before preparing a comprehensive framework for implementing the UCC in the state.
Focus on marriage, divorce, succession and other personal matters
The proposed UCC is aimed at creating a common legal framework for personal and family matters for citizens irrespective of religion, caste or denomination. Key areas under consideration include marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships.
The committee is examining how provisions governing these matters can be made uniform, clear and equitable while taking into account the social and cultural characteristics of Chhattisgarh.
आज दिनांक 27 अगस्त 2026 को न्यू सर्किट हाउस, सिविल लाइन, रायपुर स्थित कन्वेंशन हॉल में समान नागरिक संहिता (UCC) के प्रावधानों एवं इसके संभावित प्रभावों को लेकर आयोजित राज्य स्तरीय समूह चर्चा/परिचयात्मक बैठक में उपस्थित होकर अपने विचार एवं सुझाव साझा किए। pic.twitter.com/qGl7NIvcqu
— Bhupendra Sawanni (@Bsawanni) August 27, 2026
One of the major principles discussed during the consultation was equal inheritance rights for sons and daughters. The proposed framework also seeks to address practices and provisions that may result in unequal rights in marriage, divorce and succession.
The consultation also discussed the need to remove complexities arising from the existence of different personal laws and to establish a more clearly defined and streamlined legal framework for civil and family matters.
Wide participation from religious and social organisations
Representatives from several religious and social organisations participated in the consultation and placed their views before the committee.
Those who shared suggestions included Pranav Kumar Marpachhi, Vice-Chairperson of the Central Tribal Development Authority; Lalit Makhija, president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad; Jan Rajesh Paul representing the Christian community; Salam Rizvi, president of the Muslim community; and Inderjit Chhabra, president of the Gurudwara Committee.
आज रायपुर के सिविल लाइन स्थित सर्किट हाउस के कन्वेंशन हॉल में समान नागरिक संहिता (UCC) के प्रावधानों एवं इसके संभावित प्रभावों पर आयोजित राज्य स्तरीय समूह चर्चा सह परिचयात्मक बैठक में सम्मिलित हुआ।
इस महत्वपूर्ण बैठक में UCC की उच्च स्तरीय समिति के माननीय सदस्यगण, सम्मानित… pic.twitter.com/5ek9UnRdix
— Vikas Markam (@vikasmarkambjp) August 27, 2026
Representatives of various statutory bodies and commissions also participated. They included Lalit Chandrakar, vice-chairperson of the Other Backward Classes Development Authority; Ganesh Shankar Mishra, chairman of the State Policy Commission; Sandeep Sharma, chairman of the State Food Commission; Dr Mamta Sahu, chairperson of the State Women’s Commission; and commission members Sarla Kosaria and Deepika Sori.
Also present were Visheshwar Patel, chairman of the Ga Seva Commission; Amarjeet Chhabra, chairman of the State Minorities Commission; Sanjay Srivastava, chairman of the State Civil Supplies Corporation; Roop Singh Mandavi, chairman of the Scheduled Tribes Commission; and Lakhan Lal Dhivar, vice-chairman of the Fisheries Welfare Board.
Mahant Ram Sundar Das of Jaitu Sav Math, representatives of the Agrawal and Maheshwari communities and members of several other social organisations also took part in the deliberations.
Committee examining Chhattisgarh-specific requirements
UCC committee member and former IAS officer Shatrughan Singh said the committee’s work was continuing and that consultations were being held to determine the nature of provisions that could be incorporated into the proposed code.
He said the committee was examining provisions relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships, among other personal matters. Singh emphasised that Chhattisgarh has its own distinctive social and cultural characteristics and, therefore, the state’s specific circumstances would have to be taken into account while framing the provisions.
“The suggestions emerging from the consultations will be examined and deliberated upon by the committee,” he said. The committee is expected to study the practical implications of proposed reforms, particularly in relation to the state’s tribal communities and customary traditions.
Tribal customs and traditional practices to receive attention
An important aspect of the consultation process is the assessment of how any proposed changes could affect Chhattisgarh’s tribal communities and their established customary practices. The committee has indicated that the state’s distinctive tribal traditions and customary practices will be examined sensitively before finalising the proposed framework.
Public consultation underway across the state
The consultation at the New Circuit House is part of a broader public engagement exercise being undertaken by the committee.
The committee has been collecting opinions from citizens, social and religious organisations, legal experts, community representatives and other stakeholders through field studies across districts, an online portal and public consultations.
The process is intended to provide the committee with a broad understanding of the legal, social and administrative implications of introducing a UCC in Chhattisgarh. The committee will subsequently examine the suggestions received through these different channels and use them as inputs while preparing its draft recommendations.
Five-member panel studying UCC framework
The Chhattisgarh government has constituted a five-member high-level committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine the need for and framework of a Uniform Civil Code in the state.
The panel comprises retired IAS officers Shatrughan Singh and M.K. Raut, senior advocate Mohan Pawar and retired principal Jyoti Rani Singh as members. The committee has been entrusted with examining the existing legal position in Chhattisgarh and studying the various personal civil laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance and adoption.
It will also study UCC frameworks adopted or proposed in other states and examine their applicability and practical implications in the context of Chhattisgarh.
Committee to examine legal, social and administrative aspects
The committee’s mandate extends beyond merely drafting legislation. It is expected to examine the legal, social and administrative aspects of implementing a common civil code in the state. Among its key responsibilities is an assessment of existing laws and practices, identification of areas requiring reform, and preparation of practical recommendations on sensitive personal matters.
The committee will also consider the views submitted by citizens, community organisations, religious institutions, legal professionals, social groups and other stakeholders.
Based on its study and consultations, the panel will prepare a comprehensive draft and submit it to the state government along with recommendations on the legislative and administrative measures required for implementation.
Suggestions invited until October 15
The state government has invited citizens and organisations to submit their views and suggestions on the proposed UCC until October 15, 2026.
Government and non-government organisations, social groups, religious institutions, community bodies and political parties, apart from individual citizens, have been encouraged to participate in the consultation process.
The government has described the public consultation as an important component of the exercise to ensure that the proposed framework reflects the views and concerns of different sections of society.
Chhattisgarh moving towards UCC
The proposed UCC is being examined in the broader context of efforts to establish a common framework for personal civil matters. The stated objective is to provide uniform and equitable rights in areas such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships, while addressing disparities that may arise under different personal laws.
The latest consultation in Raipur brought together representatives from diverse religious, social and institutional backgrounds, providing the committee with another set of perspectives for consideration.
With district-level field studies, online consultations and stakeholder meetings continuing, the committee is expected to consolidate the feedback before preparing its recommendations for the state government.
The consultation process is thus emerging as a crucial stage in Chhattisgarh’s proposed move towards a Uniform Civil Code, with the government seeking to balance the objective of legal uniformity with the state’s diverse social, cultural and customary traditions.
