West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday announced that his government would implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by following the framework adopted by Assam, Gujarat and Uttarakhand, with a committee headed by a retired judge set to be constituted to steer the process.
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Adhikari said the state would adhere to the constitutionally prescribed procedure for introducing the UCC and that further details would be placed before the Assembly on Monday.
"There is a prescribed procedure for it and I will explain it in the Assembly. A committee will be constituted under the leadership of a retired judge. Following the same procedure adopted in Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Assam, the process will be carried out. I will provide further details in the Assembly on Monday," the Chief Minister said.
The announcement comes weeks after the BJP assumed power in West Bengal, with Adhikari becoming the state's first BJP Chief Minister following the Assembly elections.
Also read: MP govt set to table UCC Bill next month
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had made implementation of the UCC one of its key election promises. During the campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah pledged to introduce a Uniform Civil Code if the BJP formed the government in the state. They had also promised to end what they described as "politics of appeasement" and asserted that Bengalis would not be allowed to become a minority in West Bengal.
The proposed move, however, drew sharp opposition from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which said it would resist the legislation, alleging that the UCC formed part of the BJP's "communal agenda".
The Bengal government is expected to table the proposed UCC Bill during the Assembly session on Monday after circulating a draft among legislators for discussion.
The Uniform Civil Code seeks to establish a common set of personal laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, replacing religion-specific personal laws with a uniform legal framework applicable to all citizens.
The issue has remained politically contentious, with supporters arguing that it promotes equality before the law, while critics contend that it could undermine India's religious and cultural diversity.
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