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Madhya Pradesh forms high-level panel to draft Uniform Civil Code, chaired by former Supreme Court judge
The Madhya Pradesh government accelerated its Uniform Civil Code push by issuing an official order to form a six-member high-level committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, with 60 days to draft a UCC framework. The move follows an NDTV report on April 9 about the government's preparations and Desai's potential leadership. The panel will study existing personal laws, consider live-in relationships, examine Uttarakhand and Gujarat models, and may hold public consultations.
Why It Matters
This marks a major step in reforming personal and family laws in Madhya Pradesh, potentially affecting marriage, inheritance, and other rights, while navigating tribal protections and social norms. The process could face legal and constitutional complexities given MP's demographics and Scheduled Areas.
Timeline
2 Events
Official order to form six-member UCC drafting panel
April 27, 2026
The Law and Legislative Affairs Department issued an official order to constitute a high-level six-member committee chaired by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai. The panel has 60 days to submit a draft UCC bill and a detailed report, will study existing personal laws, and may invite public suggestions and objections. It will also examine UCC models from Uttarakhand and Gujarat, with a focus on regulating live-in relationships and safeguarding women's rights, child protection, and equality. The order was signed by Law Department Secretary Mukesh Kumar and emphasizes tailoring the draft to Madhya Pradesh's social, economic, and cultural context, considering its tribal population and Fifth Schedule protections.
NDTV reports MP government to move on Uniform Civil Code and Desai to lead
April 9, 2026
NDTV reported that the Madhya Pradesh government was actively preparing to move on a Uniform Civil Code and that former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, who previously chaired similar committees in Gujarat and Uttarakhand, was likely to lead Madhya Pradesh's UCC drafting.