Former Justice R. C. Chavan resigned from Maharashtra’s seven-member Uniform Civil Code committee on 19 September 2026. The committee was formed in July 2026 to prepare a framework for implementing a common civil code in the state.
Uniform Civil Code in India
The Uniform Civil Code is mentioned in Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution of India. It refers to a common set of civil laws on matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and succession.
Maharashtra Committee Structure
The Maharashtra government constituted the committee with seven members and appointed retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai as chairperson. The panel was tasked with drafting a framework for the state’s UCC proposal.
Justice Chavan stated that he resigned after the committee’s second online meeting. He said the resignation was intended to create a vacancy quickly so that the government could appoint another member.
Issues Raised in the Resignation
Justice Chavan cited differences over the committee’s functioning and the participation of an officer from outside Maharashtra. He said meetings ended without substantive discussion on agenda items such as confirmation of minutes, website changes, and finalisation of questionnaires.
He also said that suggestions from members on framing a questionnaire for public views on late marriages, infertility, and unstable marriages were not considered. He stated that a questionnaire finalised by the chairperson had already been circulated.
Important Facts for Exams
- Article 44 of the Constitution of India places the Uniform Civil Code under the Directive Principles of State Policy.
- The Uniform Civil Code deals with civil matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, and succession.
- Retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai heads the Maharashtra seven-member UCC committee.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had indicated that the UCC Bill could be introduced in the winter session after the committee’s report.
Committee Process and Legislative Context
The committee was expected to study public views and prepare a report for the state government. The Maharashtra government has linked the proposed bill to the committee’s findings and the legislative assembly’s winter session.
