MP UCC panel recommends excluding tribals from proposed bill
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Photo: Siasat Daily
A committee constituted by the Madhya Pradesh government to draft a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has recommended that Scheduled Tribes be kept outside the scope of the proposed legislation.
The multi-member panel, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, submitted its report to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on July 13. According to officials, the report has been forwarded to the state's Law Department for further examination, Siasat Daily reported.
An official statement said the report will undergo scrutiny by a committee of senior secretaries before being placed before the state Cabinet. Subject to the Cabinet's approval, a UCC Bill is expected to be introduced during the five-day Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, scheduled to begin on July 20.
Chief Minister Yadav thanked Justice Desai and the committee members for submitting the report within the stipulated timeframe.
Committee members Prof. Gopal Sharma, Budhpal Singh, Shobha Paithankar and member secretary Ajay Katesaria were present when the report was handed over. Justice Desai, senior adviser Shatrughan Singh and committee member Anup Nair were absent due to personal reasons, the statement added.
According to the government, the report has been divided into three sections. The first comprises 10 chapters containing the committee's recommendations after examining international, national and state laws and practices. The second section includes a draft UCC Bill prepared in the context of laws currently applicable in Madhya Pradesh. The proposed legislation consists of four parts, 404 sections and seven schedules.
The third section contains findings from an extensive public consultation process conducted at the district, state and online levels. Officials said the committee received more than 9.58 lakh suggestions, and the report includes an analysis based on gender, community and other categories.
The official statement said the panel has specifically recommended exempting Scheduled Tribes from the proposed Uniform Civil Code.
The committee had been tasked with reviewing legal frameworks governing personal and family matters, including marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships.
According to the government, the draft was prepared after taking into account Madhya Pradesh's social, cultural and economic conditions. The committee also sought to promote gender equality while ensuring that traditional customs, ceremonial practices, constitutional provisions and public policy are respected.