West Bengal forms a nine-member committee to examine a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill for the state. Multiple reports say the panel is led by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, a retired Supreme Court judge. The state government issues a notification describing the committee’s role in reviewing the draft in view of its “wide ramifications” and “voluminous” nature, and it says the committee will undertake a comprehensive examination before any further steps are taken.
The draft bill is intended to create a uniform legal framework for personal civil matters for residents of the state irrespective of religion, faith or community. Sources also report that it is designed to address legal issues including marriage, divorce, intestate succession and testamentary succession.
The reports further state that the government expects to introduce the proposed legislation in the West Bengal Assembly during the August session, following the committee’s review process. The committee’s broader membership includes additional public figures, though the common details across outlets emphasize the chair, the size of the panel, the stated rationale for forming it, and the intended scope of the UCC draft.
