Representatives of commissions, boards, religious and social organisations submit suggestions; tribal customs to be considered in proposed legal framework
TFP Bureau, Raipur, August 27, 2026: Extensive consultations on the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for Chhattisgarh were held at the New Circuit House in Raipur on Thursday, with representatives of various commissions, corporations and boards, religious and social organisations, community groups, intellectuals and public representatives sharing their views and suggestions.
The meeting was held before the committee constituted by the state government to examine the UCC. The committee comprises retired IAS officers Shatrughna Singh and M.K. Raut, senior advocate Mohan Pawar, retired officer Jyoti Rani Singh and Member Secretary Shyam Dhavde.
The committee has been constituted in the context of Article 44 of the Constitution, which directs the state to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens.
The proposed UCC seeks to establish common rules governing personal and family matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance and adoption, irrespective of religion, caste or community. The consultation process is aimed at incorporating views from different sections of society before the draft framework is finalised.
Focus on equality in personal laws
During the consultation, participants discussed the possibility of creating a uniform legal framework that ensures equal and equitable rights in personal matters.
Particular emphasis was placed on equality between men and women in matters such as inheritance and marital rights. Participants also discussed the need to address practices and provisions that may result in unequal treatment and to simplify complexities arising from the coexistence of different personal laws.
The committee is seeking views on a range of issues, including marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships, with the objective of developing a clear and comprehensive legal framework.
Representatives from diverse communities participate
The consultation saw participation from representatives of different religious and social communities as well as state-level bodies.
Those who offered suggestions included Pranav Kumar Marpachchi, Vice-Chairman of the Central Region Tribal Development Authority; Lalit Makhija, President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad; John Rajesh Paul, representing the Christian community; Salam Rizvi, President of the Muslim community; Inderjit Chhabra, President of the Gurudwara Committee; Lalit Chandrakar, Vice-Chairman of the Other Backward Classes Authority; and Ganesh Shankar Mishra, Chairman of the State Policy Commission.
Sandeep Sharma, Chairman of the State Food Commission; Women’s Commission Chairperson Mamta Sahu and members Sarla Kosariya and Deepika Sori; Cow Service Commission Chairman Visheshwar Patel; State Minorities Commission Chairman Amarjit Chhabra; State Civil Supplies Corporation Chairman Sanjay Srivastava; Scheduled Tribes Commission Chairman Roop Singh Mandavi; Fishermen’s Welfare Board Vice-Chairman Lakhan Lal Dhivar; and Mahant Ram Sundar Das of Jaitu Sao Math also participated.
Representatives of social organisations and communities, including the Agarwal and Maheshwari communities, were also present.
Tribal customs to receive special consideration
The committee emphasised that any proposed legal reforms would need to take into account the distinctive tribal traditions and customary practices prevalent in Chhattisgarh.
The practical impact of the proposed provisions on tribal communities and their established customs will be examined carefully, with sensitivity to the state’s diverse social and cultural landscape.
The committee is conducting a statewide consultation process to prepare an inclusive draft of the proposed UCC. Views are being sought from citizens, socio-religious organisations, community representatives and legal experts through field studies, an online portal and public consultations across districts.
The consultation at the New Circuit House was part of this broader exercise to gather diverse perspectives and work towards a transparent, inclusive and citizen-oriented framework for the proposed Uniform Civil Code in Chhattisgarh.
