West Bengal Forms High-Level Committee Led by Former SC Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai to Draft Uniform Civil Code

The West Bengal government on [date] constituted a high-level committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the state. The committee's formation marks a significant step in the ongoing national debate over the UCC, a proposed legal framework that would replace personal laws based on religious scriptures with a common set of laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for all citizens.

The move comes amid heightened political rhetoric, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari stating that his party would bring laws against 'love jihad' and 'land jihad' within six months and implement the UCC in West Bengal, similar to Uttarakhand and Gujarat. Uttarakhand recently became the first Indian state to implement a UCC, while Gujarat has also announced plans to follow suit. The committee's mandate is to scrutinize the draft UCC and recommend changes suitable for West Bengal's diverse population.

The formation of the committee is likely to spark intense political debate in West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress has previously accused the BJP of using the UCC to polarize voters. The committee's recommendations, expected in the coming months, will be closely watched as they could influence the national discourse on the UCC and set a precedent for other states. The BJP's promise to implement the UCC in West Bengal within six months adds pressure on the state government, which has yet to clarify its stance on the issue.