UCC in Guj aims to ensure equal rights for citizens: Panel chief

Gandhinagar: Retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Ranjana Desai, who is the chairperson of the committee formed to examine the need for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Gujarat, said the implementation of the UCC in Gujarat will create a "progressive and equality-based legal framework."An official statement said on Thursday that a meeting of the high-level committee was held in New Delhi on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Justice Desai. The current status, progress, and various aspects of the draft UCC were discussed during the meeting, the statement added. "The implementation of the UCC in the state will create a progressive and equality-based legal framework, and every citizen will get equal justice and rights," the release quoted Justice Desai as saying. "The draft laws prepared by the committee so far were reviewed in this meeting, with a special emphasis on subjects like marriage, divorce, inheritance rights, and adoption laws. The committee also stressed that the interests of all communities are being kept in mind while preparing the draft, with the aim of maintaining social harmony," the statement added. The state govt constituted a high-level committee headed by Justice Ranjana Desai in Feb last year to examine the need for the UCC in the state and to prepare a draft of the proposed code. The other members of the panel include retired IAS officer C L Meena, advocate R C Kodekar, educationist Daxesh Thakar, and social worker Gita Shroff.