The Gujarat government has advanced the process for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), following the completion of public consultations and high-level discussions.&nbsp;
On Tuesday, a meeting was held in Gandhinagar between Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and members of the UCC Committee, including Chairperson Justice (Retired) Ranjana Desai and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi.
Justice Desai, who leads the five-member panel, confirmed after the meeting that the report is nearing completion and will likely be presented to the state government within the next month.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We met the Governor on Monday and the Chief Minister today in a formal interaction. While the exact date for submitting the report is yet to be fixed, it is likely to be submitted this month. As of now, there seems to be no need for an extension,&rdquo; she told reporters.&nbsp;
The committee, constituted to evaluate the framework for a common civil code in the state, was originally expected to submit its findings within 45 days. However, the timeline extended due to the large number of representations received. According to official figures, over 1.15 lakh suggestions were submitted by individuals and community representatives, with a significant number&mdash;96,165&mdash;coming from Muslim leaders in South Gujarat on the final day of submissions, April 15.
Cabinet Minister and government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel attributed the delay to the volume and diversity of inputs. &ldquo;This was a formal meeting. The report will be submitted to the Chief Minister in about a month or slightly more. We received nearly 1.5 lakh submissions. Although the government had set a 45-day deadline, it took longer to collect inputs from various communities and social groups, and to compile their views and conclusions,&rdquo; he explained.
The committee, which includes Justice Desai, former Vice-Chancellor Dakshesh Thakar, retired IAS officer C.L. Meena, advocate R.C. Kodaker, and social worker Geeta Shroff, has held public consultations across every district in Gujarat. All meetings were documented as part of the committee's mandate to assess public sentiment and gather feedback from a broad spectrum of society.
A separate review session was also conducted at Swarnim Sankul One, where the Chief Minister examined the committee&rsquo;s work over the past 45 days. Present at the meeting were Minister Sanghavi, Additional Chief Secretary M.K. Das, Secretary Dr Vikrant Pandey, Acting Law Secretary Upendra Bhatt, and other senior officials.
Justice Desai reiterated that the implementation process would not face further delays, highlighting the ground-level work completed. &ldquo;We visited every district and spoke to citizens, and each meeting has been properly recorded,&rdquo; she noted.
The UCC, which falls under Article 44 of the Indian Constitution&rsquo;s Directive Principles of State Policy, proposes a unified legal structure for civil matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, and property rights. Presently, personal laws in these areas vary based on religious affiliation.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had earlier announced the government&rsquo;s intention to implement the UCC, prompting the formation of the committee. The bill is expected to be introduced during the monsoon session of the state assembly, with implementation projected within six months thereafter.
During a briefing, the state reiterated that the final draft will reflect input gathered both digitally and through in-person consultations. If implemented, Gujarat will follow Uttarakhand as the second Indian state to operationalise the UCC.&nbsp;

Report to be submitted early as panel decides against extension

Gujarat Nears Rollout of Uniform Civil Code Draft

Report to be submitted early as panel decides against extension

August 5, 2025 | 23:49 IST