Raipur

The Chhattisgarh Cabinet on Wednesday decided to constitute a high-level committee, headed by a retired judge, to prepare a draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for implementation in the state, aiming to simplify laws and promote religious and gender equality.

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Vishnu Deo Sai at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan, according to an official statement.

The panel will be headed by retired judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, while the chief minister has been authorised to nominate other members.

At present, matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, maintenance and family disputes in Chhattisgarh are governed by different personal laws based on religion. The government cited Article 44 of the Constitution of India, which directs the state to work towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens.

The statement said the existence of multiple personal laws creates inequality in legal processes and makes the justice system more complex.

The committee will seek suggestions from citizens, organisations and experts, and may also invite feedback through a web portal. Based on its recommendations, a draft bill will be prepared and placed before the cabinet for approval, after which it will be introduced in the state assembly.

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Uttarakhand became the first state to formally implement the UCC in January 2025. Gujarat last month passed the UCC Bill, 2026.