Mumbai: The state govt has said it will not replace Justice (retd) R C Chavan who has resigned from the seven-member committee appointed to draft rules and recommendations for implementing Uniform Civil Code in the state. Chavan resigned following differences over the functioning of the committee in certain aspects.A cabinet minister said, “Govt will not appoint any new member to replace him. It will go ahead and prepare draft rules and make recommendations to implement UCC based on submissions from the existing 6 members.” Govt has decided to not respond to Chavan’s allegations, too, the minister said.In July, the state set up a 7-member committee led by retired SC judge Ranjana Desai to formulate a draft legislation for its implementation within 6 months. She had earlier headed a committee which drafted the UCC for Uttarakhand. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had then said he intends to present a bill in the winter session of the legislature in December. In the Constitution, the directive principles of state policy say each state should form a UCC, he said.The other committee members of the panel included retired Bombay HC judges R C Chavan and S G Mehare, former Maharashtra chief secretary D K Jain, former advocate general Virendra Saraf, constitutional expert Ramesh Patange and educationist and social worker Suvarna Rawal.Chavan submitted his resignation to the committee via email on Sept 19. The committee forwarded the mail to the law and judiciary dept, which in turn forwarded it to CM Fadnavis who approved it. Govt accepted the resignation and informed Chavan about it. An official said the committee will continue with existing members and meetings will be online. A website will be created where questionnaires will be put up for the public to respond. The draft report will be put in public domain, the official said.The UCC, which is a key agenda for the Modi govt, provides a common civil law for all citizens irrespective of religion. It covers laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, which currently come within the ambit of personal laws for communities including Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Parsis.
