Maharashtra moves towards UCC: Fadnavis govt sets up panel under retired High Court judge

Maharashtra may become the next state to implement a Uniform Civil Code after the Fadnavis government announced plans to form an expert panel to prepare a draft framework.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis (Image via Millennium Post)

Maharashtra could soon become the next state to move towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). On Tuesday, 23rd June, the Mahayuti government indicated that it plans to begin the process by setting up an expert committee to prepare a draft framework for the proposed law.

Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam said while replying to a discussion in the Maharashtra Assembly that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has decided to appoint a committee headed by a retired High Court judge. The committee will study the issue and prepare a draft, based on which the government will take further steps towards implementing the UCC in the state.

Government says it is fully committed to UCC

Kadam made it clear that the government is strongly in favour of introducing a Uniform Civil Code.

“The government is 100 per cent positive about bringing a Uniform Civil Code in Maharashtra,” he said.

He added that issues such as polygamy and other personal law-related matters would be examined while preparing the draft legislation. Kadam also stated that the anti-triple talaq law is already being implemented in Maharashtra and that the government remains committed to protecting the rights of women.

The issue was raised in the Assembly through a calling attention motion moved by BJP MLA Devyani Farande. Referring to several cases reported from Nashik, she said that some Muslim women had faced instant divorce, threats and harassment from their husbands despite the existence of the anti-triple talaq law.

Farande argued that while Parliament had criminalised triple talaq in 2019, its implementation on the ground still faces challenges. She cited cases where women were divorced over phone calls, threatened with the circulation of private videos, assaulted and left without financial support.

She also referred to practices in countries such as Pakistan, where a man requires permission from his first wife before entering into a second marriage, and said stronger safeguards were needed to protect women.

Heated debate in the Assembly

The discussion led to sharp exchanges between members of the ruling alliance and the Opposition.

NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jayant Patil questioned why the motion had been admitted in the Assembly. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar argued that the anti-triple talaq law is a Central legislation and questioned whether the issue should be debated in the state legislature.

NCP MLA Sana Malik said crimes against women are not limited to any one community and pointed out that Muslim personal laws are based on religious principles. Her remarks were strongly opposed by ruling alliance members.

Responding to her comments, BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said, “The country runs according to the Constitution, not according to any religious text.”

Government says issue is about women’s rights

Defending the government’s stand, Kadam said the discussion was not about targeting any religion but about ensuring justice and dignity for women.

Kadam further informed the assembly 42 cases related to triple talaq were registered in 2024, leading to the arrest of 152 accused persons, while 39 cases were registered in 2025, resulting in action against 137 accused and 95 arrests. 

Kadam stressed that any future Uniform Civil Code would not be directed against any particular community and said the government’s focus remains on ensuring equal rights and legal protection for all citizens, especially women.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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