Maharashtra UCC panel: Retd Justice Ranjana Desai to lead 7-member draft committee
Synopsis
Maharashtra has moved decisively on the Uniform Civil Code, constituting a seven-member expert panel under Retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai with a six-month clock to deliver a draft. If the government tables the bill in Nagpur's winter session as promised, Maharashtra would become the second state after Uttarakhand to enact the UCC — and by far the largest by population.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis announced a seven-member UCC committee in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on 9 July .
The panel is chaired by Retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai and includes three retired judges, a former bureaucrat, a former advocate general, and two social sector figures.
The committee must submit its report within six months ; the government aims to table the UCC bill in the winter session in Nagpur .
The UCC will include a ban on polygamy and will apply uniformly to all citizens regardless of religion, according to the government.
Uttarakhand became the first state to enforce the UCC on 27 January 2025 under CM Pushkar Singh Dhami .
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 9 July announced the formation of a seven-member high-level committee to draft a framework for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, with Retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai appointed as its chairperson. The announcement was made on the floor of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, with the panel directed to submit its comprehensive report within six months.
What the Committee Is Mandated to Do
The committee has been tasked with studying all aspects of UCC implementation and submitting a detailed report to the state government. Chief Minister Fadnavis stated, 'A seven-member committee, comprising legal experts, educationists, and social workers, is being formed. The committee is expected to submit its report within the next six months. Our effort is to take this report and introduce the bill in both Houses during the winter session in Nagpur.'
The government has indicated its intent to table the draft UCC bill during the upcoming winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur, where it will be placed before both Houses to initiate the legislative process for enactment.
Who Is on the Panel
The committee brings together a cross-section of legal, administrative, and social expertise. Headed by Retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai, the panel includes Retd High Court Justice R.C. Chavan, Retd High Court Justice S.G. Mehare, D.K. Jain (Former Chief Secretary), Birendra Saraf (Former Advocate General), Padma Shri Ramesh Patange (Social Worker), and Dr Suvarna Rawal (Educationist and Constitutional Expert). Three of the seven members are retired judges from the Supreme Court and High Courts.
Background: Earlier Government Signals
The announcement builds on an earlier statement by Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam, who informed the Legislative Assembly on 23 June that the Maharashtra government had approved the formation of a retired high court judge-led committee to submit a UCC implementation report. Kadam had said, 'The Maharashtra government is positive about the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. Once the report is submitted, the UCC will be implemented.'
Kadam's statement came in response to a calling attention motion raised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Devyani Farande over reported instances of triple talaq in Nasik district. The minister also confirmed that a ban on polygamy would be incorporated within the UCC framework, adding that the code would apply uniformly across all religions.
Maharashtra Follows Uttarakhand's Lead
Maharashtra's move comes after Uttarakhand became the first state in India to enforce the UCC. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami officially implemented the law on 27 January 2025, following the passage of the UCC bill by the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly on 7 February of the previous year. The Uttarakhand expert committee had submitted its draft report on 18 October 2024. Several other BJP-governed states are now reportedly moving toward similar legislation, making Maharashtra's committee formation part of a broader national pattern.
Point of View
And that state's population and religious diversity are a fraction of Maharashtra's. The real test will be whether the winter session target survives coalition arithmetic within the Mahayuti government and legal challenges that are near-certain to follow any bill tabling. The framing of UCC as a response to triple talaq incidents in Nasik is also telling — it signals the political driver as much as the legal one, and opposition parties will likely exploit that framing to contest the committee's neutrality.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maharashtra UCC committee and who leads it?
The Maharashtra government has constituted a seven-member high-level committee to draft a framework for implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state. It is chaired by Retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai and includes retired High Court judges, a former chief secretary, a former advocate general, and two social sector experts.
When is the UCC committee expected to submit its report?
The committee has been given a six-month deadline to submit its comprehensive report to the Maharashtra government. The state aims to introduce the UCC bill in both Houses during the upcoming winter session of the legislature in Nagpur.
What will Maharashtra's UCC include?
According to Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam, the UCC will include a ban on polygamy and will apply uniformly to all citizens irrespective of their religion. The exact provisions will be determined by the committee's report.
Which state first implemented the UCC in India?
Uttarakhand became the first state in India to enforce the Uniform Civil Code. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami officially implemented the law on 27 January 2025, following the passage of the UCC bill by the state assembly on 7 February of the previous year.
Why was the UCC issue raised in the Maharashtra Assembly?
The issue was initially raised through a calling attention motion by BJP MLA Devyani Farande over reported instances of triple talaq in Nasik district. Minister Yogesh Kadam's response on 23 June confirmed the government's intent to form a UCC drafting committee, ahead of CM Fadnavis's formal announcement on 9 July.
