Mumbai, Sep 23 Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh has alleged that the credibility of Maharashtra’s Uniform Civil Code drafting committee was undermined after former Bombay HC judge R C Chavan resigned and demanded the appointment of a representative from the minority community.
The former HC judge has cited serious reservations over the panel’s decision to restrict public feedback on crucial social issues to a binary “Yes/No” format.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the SP MLA alleged that preparation of the UCC draft is a political strategy by the BJP with an eye on elections,
He has demanded that a representative from the minority community be appointed on the panel to “enhance” its credibility.
“The committee was constituted in July. It has been given a six-month term. There is currently no representative from the minority community on the committee. As a result, the panel is being viewed with suspicion, and following Justice Chavan’s resignation, its credibility has been further undermined,” he said.
Shaikh alleged the BJP is attempting to impose the “norms of the majority” through the proposed UCC.
“The proposed law would have a significant impact on minority communities and tribal communities,” he claimed, adding that the common law will undermine the country’s cultural diversity and will also nullify personal laws governing various religious communities in matters such as divorce, inheritance rights, marriage and adoption.
In July, the state government set up a seven-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai to draft a framework for implementing the UCC, which seeks to establish equal laws across religions on issues of marriage, divorce, and property.
The other members of the panel are former high court judge S G Mehare, Maharashtra ex-chief secretary D K Jain, former advocate general Virendra Saraf, constitutional expert Ramesh Patange and educationist Suvarna Rawal.
Justice Chavan (retd) resigned from the panel on September 19. In his resignation letter, he raised several concerns and alleged that meetings were being concluded without substantive discussion.
Last week, CM Fadnavis said the state government would implement the UCC once the committee submits its report.
On September 13, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he was confident that BJP-led NDA governments in 21 states will introduce UCC before 2029.
Uttarakhand is the first state in the country to implement UCC. Gujarat, Assam and Madhya Pradesh assemblies have also passed UCC bills.
(PTI News)
