West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said his government will implement a Uniform Civil Code by following all due legal procedures [1].
The move signals a significant shift in the state's legal landscape, as the government seeks to replace diverse religious personal laws with a single framework for all citizens.
Adhikari made the announcement on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, during appearances at the Republic Bangla Summit and a program at Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata [1, 2]. He said the government plans to introduce a UCC bill in the Assembly on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024 [2].
The Chief Minister said that the UCC is his next priority and that he is actively working toward its implementation [3]. He said that the process in West Bengal will mirror the legal paths taken by the states of Gujarat and Assam [1].
"We will implement the Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal by following due legal procedures, similar to Gujarat and Assam," Adhikari said [1].
The proposed legislation aims to provide a uniform personal law framework for all citizens regardless of their religion. Adhikari said the bill is likely to be introduced in the Assembly on Aug. 5, 2024 [2].
The administration's push for a UCC follows a trend in other Indian states seeking to standardize laws regarding marriage, divorce, and inheritance. By utilizing the same legal procedures as Gujarat and Assam, the West Bengal government intends to ensure the framework is legally sound before full implementation [1].
“"We will implement the Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal by following due legal procedures."”
The introduction of a Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal represents a move toward legal secularization by removing personal laws based on religious affiliation. By citing the models of Gujarat and Assam, the administration is signaling an intent to align state policy with a broader national trend toward standardized civil legislation, which often triggers significant debate over religious freedom and minority rights in India.
