Maharashtra govt clears UCC committee led by retired HC judge
Synopsis
Maharashtra has greenlit a retired High Court judge-led panel to draft a UCC roadmap — a move that puts the state on a path to joining Uttarakhand as one of the few to enact the code. The announcement came amid live Assembly drama over triple talaq data and a pointed cross-party debate on polygamy.
Key Takeaways
The Maharashtra government on 23 June approved a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to draft a UCC implementation report.
Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam confirmed UCC will be enacted after the committee submits its recommendations.
In 2024 , 42 triple talaq cases were registered with 152 arrests ; in 2025 , 39 cases led to 95 arrests .
BJP MLA Devyani Farande raised the motion citing triple talaq complaints from three women in Nashik district.
NCP MLA Sana Malik countered, clarifying only instant talaq — not triple talaq broadly — has been banned.
Maharashtra would follow Uttarakhand as one of the first states to implement a UCC if the process concludes.
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday, 23 June approved the formation of a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to draft a report on implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam confirmed in the state legislative Assembly that the UCC will be rolled out once the committee submits its recommendations.
What the Government Said
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given his approval to constitute the panel, according to Kadam. 'The Maharashtra government is positive about the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. Chief Minister Fadnavis has given his nod to form a committee led by a retired High Court judge to prepare a draft for the UCC. Once the report is submitted, the UCC will be implemented,' Kadam told the Assembly.
Kadam also assured that once the code is enacted, a ban on polygamy will be incorporated within it. He emphasised that the government 'is not against any religion, neither an individual' and that the UCC, when brought in, 'will be applicable to every individual, irrespective of their religion.'
What Triggered the Debate
The discussion was sparked by a calling attention motion raised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Devyani Farande over reported instances of triple talaq in Nashik district. Farande claimed that despite the Centre's ban on triple talaq, such incidents are on the rise, and said she had received complaints from three Muslim women regarding threats, violence, and triple talaq from their husbands.
Farande also raised the issue of polygamy, noting that states like Assam have banned it, and pointed out that even Pakistan has introduced restrictions. She demanded clarity on whether Maharashtra would follow Uttarakhand and Gujarat in enacting a UCC.
Triple Talaq Data Presented in Assembly
Kadam placed figures before the House: in 2024, around 42 cases of triple talaq were registered, leading to 152 arrests. In 2025, approximately 39 cases were recorded, resulting in 95 arrests. 'It shows that the practice is still in existence and it needs to be tackled using the law,' he said, assuring swift action against the accused.
Opposition Pushback Inside the House
Ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Sana Malik countered Farande, questioning whether only Muslim women suffer from domestic violence and whether polygamy is exclusive to Islam. Malik also clarified that 'only instant talaq has been banned and not triple talaq.' Her intervention drew support from Opposition members, while BJP legislators maintained that the state must be governed by the Constitution rather than religious scripture.
The exchange triggered a brief commotion on the Assembly floor, with members from both sides engaging in verbal exchanges before order was restored.
What Comes Next
The committee's composition and timeline for submitting its report have not yet been announced. Maharashtra would join Uttarakhand — the first state to enact a UCC — if it proceeds with implementation. The move signals a significant policy direction for the Mahayuti alliance government ahead of anticipated legislative activity on the issue.
Point of View
No composition, no terms of reference have been disclosed. The BJP has long used UCC as an electoral signal, and this move fits that pattern ahead of future polls. What is notable is the Assembly data on triple talaq: arrests are being made, yet cases persist, suggesting enforcement gaps that a civil code alone may not close. The cross-party spat over whether polygamy and domestic violence are religion-specific issues points to the deeper fault lines any UCC draft will have to navigate — and which a retired judge's report will not resolve on its own.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the Maharashtra government decided about the UCC?
The Maharashtra government has approved the formation of a committee led by a retired High Court judge to prepare a draft report on implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. The UCC will be enacted after the committee submits its recommendations, according to Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam.
Why was the UCC raised in the Maharashtra Assembly?
BJP MLA Devyani Farande raised a calling attention motion over rising instances of triple talaq in Nashik district, including complaints from three Muslim women. She also demanded the state's position on polygamy and whether Maharashtra would follow Uttarakhand and Gujarat in enacting a UCC.
How many triple talaq cases have been registered in Maharashtra recently?
According to data presented in the Assembly, around 42 triple talaq cases were registered in 2024, leading to 152 arrests. In 2025, approximately 39 cases were recorded, resulting in 95 arrests.
Which states have already implemented or moved toward a UCC?
Uttarakhand became the first state in India to enact a Uniform Civil Code. Gujarat has also signalled intent to move in that direction. Maharashtra's committee formation puts it on a similar path, though implementation awaits the panel's report.
What did NCP MLA Sana Malik say during the UCC debate?
NCP MLA Sana Malik countered BJP's Devyani Farande by questioning whether domestic violence and polygamy are issues limited to Muslim women or Islam alone. She also clarified that only instant talaq has been banned under current law, not triple talaq in its broader sense.
