Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday strongly advocated the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), asserting that there should be one common law governing marriage and family matters for all citizens, irrespective of religion. He also said that only those who marry once should have the legal right to live in the state, reiterating the BJP government’s commitment to introducing a Uniform Civil Code in Madhya Pradesh.
The Chief Minister made the remarks while addressing a public event in Bhopal, days before the Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to begin on July 20.
Calls for one law for all citizens
Speaking on the proposed Uniform Civil Code, Mohan Yadav questioned why personal laws governing marriage should differ between religions.
He said there should be a common legal framework applicable to all citizens, irrespective of their faith.
Drawing a comparison, the Chief Minister said that if a person named Ram marries only once, then a person named Rahim should also be expected to marry only once. He added that Muslim women also deserve equal rights and protection under the law.
Yadav further remarked that only those who marry once would have the legal right to live in Madhya Pradesh, emphasising the need for a uniform legal system governing marriage.
Refers to abolition of triple talaq
The Chief Minister also referred to the abolition of instant triple talaq, saying the practice is no longer legally recognised.
He said anyone attempting to pronounce instant triple talaq would face legal consequences, adding that the era of the practice had ended.
According to Yadav, the principle of a single marriage should apply equally to every citizen regardless of religion.
Government preparing UCC legislation
The Chief Minister’s remarks come shortly after he indicated that the state government intends to introduce a Uniform Civil Code Bill during the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.
Earlier this week, while addressing another public programme in Indore, he had similarly argued that a country with one Constitution should not have different personal laws based on religion.
The proposed legislation forms part of the BJP government’s broader commitment to implementing a Uniform Civil Code in the state.
Committee submits report to government
Momentum for the proposed legislation increased after a committee constituted by the Madhya Pradesh government submitted its report to the Chief Minister earlier this week.
The report has since been forwarded to the state’s Law Department for further examination before the proposed Bill is finalised.
The committee was headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and examined laws relating to marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships.
According to the committee’s recommendations, tribal communities should remain outside the ambit of the proposed Uniform Civil Code.
Consultations held across the state
Mohan Yadav said the committee consulted representatives from different religions, social organisations and political parties before preparing its report.
He stated that suggestions were received from more than 10 lakh citizens during the consultation process.
The Chief Minister also criticised the Congress, alleging that the opposition viewed the Uniform Civil Code through a “Hindu-Muslim prism” and did not participate constructively in the consultation exercise.
According to Yadav, Congress leaders neither attended the committee’s meetings nor submitted their views on the proposed legislation.
UCC debate gains momentum
The debate over the Uniform Civil Code has gathered pace in several BJP-ruled states in recent years. The proposed law seeks to replace religion-based personal laws with a common civil code governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and maintenance.
Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to implement a Uniform Civil Code in February 2024. Gujarat and Assam have also initiated steps towards introducing similar legislation, while discussions on the issue continue in other states.
If introduced during the upcoming Assembly session, Madhya Pradesh could become another state to move closer to implementing a Uniform Civil Code.