The Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a voice vote, marking a significant legislative milestone in the state. The Bill was cleared amid strong protests from the Opposition Congress, whose legislators demanded that the proposed law be referred to a select committee for detailed scrutiny before its passage.
Despite the Opposition's objections, Technical Education and Skill Development Minister Gautam Tetval moved the Bill for passage through a voice vote, following which it was approved by the House.
Reacting to the passage of the legislation, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described the day as a "golden day" for the people of Madhya Pradesh and hailed the Bill as a transformative reform.
"The passing of the Uniform Civil Code Bill is truly a golden day for the 8.5 crore people of Madhya Pradesh," Yadav told reporters.
The Chief Minister said the enactment reflected the state's commitment to the ideals of "One Nation, One Constitution, One Flag, One Leader," which he associated with the vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
Highlighting the objectives of the legislation, Yadav said the law would protect women's rights by ending practices such as polygamy and ensuring legal safeguards for women.
He also criticised the Congress party for opposing the Bill, alleging that its approach continued to create divisions on religious lines. Referring to the Opposition's stance, the Chief Minister accused the Congress of pursuing a "flawed mindset" and claimed that such policies had historically contributed to the country's partition.
The Congress legislators opposed the manner in which the Bill was passed, insisting that such an important piece of legislation required wider consultation and examination by a select committee. The Opposition argued that detailed deliberations were necessary before enacting a law with wide-ranging implications for personal laws and civil rights.
However, the government proceeded with the legislation after securing its passage through a voice vote.
The newly passed Bill seeks to establish a common civil framework across communities in Madhya Pradesh by introducing several legal reforms.
Among its major provisions are:
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet had approved the draft Uniform Civil Code on Sunday, paving the way for its introduction in the Assembly on Monday. After the Bill was tabled, Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar had deferred the discussion until Tuesday, when the House ultimately approved it.
The draft legislation was prepared by the Justice Ranjana Desai (Retd.) Committee, which submitted its report to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav last week after examining various legal and constitutional aspects of implementing a Uniform Civil Code in the state.
The state government has described the Uniform Civil Code as a landmark legislative reform aimed at promoting constitutional values of equality, justice, equity, and secularism. According to the government, the law seeks to establish uniform civil regulations applicable across communities while strengthening legal protection for women and streamlining the registration of marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships.
With the Assembly's approval, Madhya Pradesh has taken a significant step towards implementing a comprehensive Uniform Civil Code, although the legislation continues to remain a subject of political debate between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress.
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