Maharashtra Sets 7-Member Panel to Draft Uniform Civil Code

The government of Maharashtra has appointed a seven-member committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, to draft a Uniform Civil Code for the state. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the panel's formation on Thursday, July 9, 2026, during the monsoon session of the state legislative assembly.

The committee has been given six months to submit its report, which will examine the legal, administrative, and social implications of introducing a common set of personal laws. The government aims to introduce legislation based on the panel's recommendations in the upcoming winter session of the legislature in Nagpur. The proposed code seeks to replace religion-based personal laws with a uniform legal framework governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, succession, and adoption for all citizens.

Justice Desai brings relevant experience to the role, having previously chaired the expert committee that drafted the Uniform Civil Code for Uttarakhand, which was implemented in January 2025. The other members of the Maharashtra committee include retired Bombay High Court judges R.C. Chavan and S.G. Mehare, former chief secretary D.K. Jain,...