Rajasthan UCC Draft Committee to weigh all views, including dissent
Synopsis
Rajasthan's UCC Draft Committee is putting inclusion at the centre of its process — assuring that dissenting voices carry the same weight as supporters. With Jan Aadhaar-linked SMS outreach and district-level hearings running in parallel, the state is running one of the most structured public consultations on a civil code in India's recent legislative history.
Key Takeaways
The Rajasthan UCC Draft Committee held a divisional public hearing on 10 July 2025 at the District Collectorate Auditorium, Jaipur .
Committee Chairman Shatrughna Singh , a retired IAS officer, assured that all views — including dissent — will receive equal consideration.
The proposed UCC-2026 seeks a uniform legal framework for marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, and live-in relationships .
Feedback is being collected via physical hearings and an online portal; SMS links have been sent to all Jan Aadhaar cardholders in Rajasthan.
A follow-up hearing for Jaipur district residents is scheduled for 11 July , from 10 am to 12:30 pm IST .
The Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Draft Committee on 10 July 2025 assured citizens that every submission — whether supportive, amendatory, or dissenting — will receive equal consideration as the panel moves toward finalising the proposed legislation. The assurance came during a divisional and district-level public hearing held at the District Collectorate Auditorium in Jaipur, which drew representatives from across civil society, religious bodies, and legal circles.
What the Hearing Covered
The session was chaired by Shatrughna Singh, Chairman of the UCC Bill Drafting Committee and a retired IAS officer, and coordinated by Divisional Commissioner V. Saravana Kumar. Singh told the gathering that the Rajasthan government is committed to broad public participation in shaping the code, actively seeking input from elected representatives, religious leaders, legal experts, academicians, social organisations, and ordinary citizens.
The proposed UCC-2026 aims to establish a uniform legal framework governing marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, and live-in relationships across communities in the state. Singh stressed that the committee will conduct a detailed analysis of all submissions before drafting the legislation. 'Every suggestion will be examined with seriousness,' he said, urging citizens to participate actively so the final law is practical, balanced, and inclusive.
Who Participated
Divisional Commissioner Saravana Kumar noted that participants at the Jaipur hearing included elected representatives, religious leaders, legal professionals, law and social-science academicians, non-governmental organisations, political party representatives, and civil society members from across the Jaipur division. District Collectors from other districts in the division joined via video conferencing. Among those present in person were Hawa Mahal MLA Mahant Balmukundacharya and Jaipur District Collector Sandesh Nayak.
Online Consultation and Jan Aadhaar Integration
Manish Goyal, Joint Secretary (Administration) and the Home Department's representative on the committee, said the state is collecting feedback through both physical hearings and a dedicated online portal. SMS messages carrying the UCC consultation link have been dispatched to all Jan Aadhaar cardholders in Rajasthan.
Citizens can access the UCC Rajasthan portal by logging in with their mobile number or Jan Aadhaar number and verifying identity via OTP. The portal allows individuals and organisations to answer consultation questions, submit written suggestions of up to 400 words, and upload supporting documents or memoranda in PDF format.
What Comes Next
A separate public hearing for Jaipur district residents is scheduled for 11 July, from 10 am to 12:30 pm IST, at the same District Collectorate Auditorium. The committee will compile all feedback from divisional hearings and the online portal before preparing the draft legislation, with similar consultations expected to continue across other divisions of Rajasthan.
Point of View
Multi-channel consultation — physical hearings, Jan Aadhaar SMS outreach, and an OTP-verified portal — sets a higher procedural bar than most state-level legislative exercises. But the real test is not process design; it is whether dissenting voices, particularly from religious minorities and women's groups, are meaningfully reflected in the final draft rather than acknowledged and set aside. The committee's explicit assurance that dissent carries equal weight is notable, but assurances without a published summary of submissions leave the process open to selective citation. How the committee documents and responds to feedback publicly will determine whether this consultation is genuine deliberation or legitimising optics.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code (UCC) 2026?
The Rajasthan UCC-2026 is a proposed state law that would establish a uniform legal framework governing marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, and live-in relationships for all citizens in Rajasthan, regardless of religion. The state government has formed a dedicated drafting committee to prepare the legislation following a structured public consultation.
What happened at the Jaipur UCC public hearing on 10 July?
A divisional and district-level public hearing on the proposed UCC was held at the District Collectorate Auditorium in Jaipur on 10 July. It was chaired by UCC Draft Committee Chairman Shatrughna Singh and attended by elected representatives, religious leaders, legal professionals, academicians, NGOs, and civil society members, with other district collectors joining via video conferencing.
How can Rajasthan citizens submit their suggestions on the UCC?
Citizens can submit feedback through the UCC Rajasthan online portal by logging in with their mobile number or Jan Aadhaar number and verifying via OTP. The portal accepts yes/no responses, written suggestions of up to 400 words, and PDF uploads of memoranda. SMS links to the portal have also been sent to all Jan Aadhaar cardholders in the state.
Will dissenting opinions be considered by the UCC Draft Committee?
Yes. Committee Chairman Shatrughna Singh explicitly stated that every viewpoint — including proposals supporting the draft, those recommending amendments, and those expressing dissent — will be examined with equal seriousness before the final legislation is prepared.
When is the next UCC public hearing in Jaipur?
A separate public hearing specifically for Jaipur district residents is scheduled for 11 July, from 10 am to 12:30 pm IST, at the District Collectorate Auditorium in Jaipur.
