FORMER SC JUDGE JUSTICE RANJANA DESAI TO HEAD HIGH-LEVEL DRAFTING COMMITTEE
MUMBAI, JULY 9: In a historic legislative move, the Maharashtra state government has initiated concrete steps to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Aligning with the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution of India, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a high-level, seven-member drafting committee in the State Legislature today. Headed by retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ranjana Desai, the panel is tasked with preparing the statutory framework. The government aims to table the formal bill before both houses of the legislature during the upcoming winter session in Nagpur.
Delivering an official statement on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Fadnavis noted that the Indian Constitution explicitly directs states to endeavor to secure a uniform civil code for citizens. He recalled his initial commitment made during the 2026 Budget Session to constitute a dedicated panel for this purpose, which has now culminated in the formal notification of the seven-member committee.
The newly appointed panel features an elite cohort of legal, administrative, and social experts. Operating under the leadership of Justice Ranjana Desai, the committee includes Justice R.C. Chavan (former Judge, Bombay High Court), Justice S.G. Mehare (former Judge, Bombay High Court), D.K. Jain (former Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra), Advocate Birendra Saraf (former Advocate General, Maharashtra), Ramesh Patange (Padma Shri Laureate and Constitutional Scholar), and Dr. Suvarna Rawal (distinguished educationist and social activist).
The Chief Minister informed lawmakers that the high-level committee is expected to conduct extensive evaluations and submit a comprehensive report to the state government within the next six months. Upon receiving the final draft, the administration plans to move swiftly to introduce the Uniform Civil Code legislation during the Nagpur winter session, ensuring thorough parliamentary scrutiny and cross-house consensus.
