Justice R C Chavan Resigns From Maharashtra UCC Panel, Flags Consultation Concerns

Bombay High Court judge Justice R C Chavan has resigned from the Maharashtra government’s seven-member committee tasked with preparing a framework for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), citing disagreements over its functioning and the involvement of an official from outside Maharashtra.

Chavan resigned on September 19. He alleged that committee meetings were being concluded without substantive discussion, with agenda items including confirmation of minutes, website modifications and finalisation of questionnaires disposed of on the chairperson’s directions.

He raised objections to the process for seeking public feedback. Chavan said suggestions from members on framing the questionnaire were not considered because a questionnaire finalised by committee chairperson and retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai had already been circulated for uploading.

The issues he cited for public views included late marriages, infertility, unstable marriages and dispute resolution. Chavan also questioned the involvement of an officer from outside Maharashtra, asking why a state officer could not perform the task and where the outside official fitted into the committee’s functioning.

The Maharashtra government constituted the panel in July under Justice Desai to prepare a draft framework for implementing the UCC. The committee has seven members and was given six months to submit its recommendations. The members include former High Court judge S G Mehare, former chief secretary D K Jain, former advocate general Virendra Saraf, constitutional expert Ramesh Patange and educationist Suvarna Rawal.

The government has said the committee will submit its recommendations before it proceeds with UCC legislation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on September 14 that the government aims to introduce the UCC Bill during the winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly in Nagpur, after receiving the panel’s report.

The government accepted Chavan’s resignation on September 21. The panel’s work on its recommendations is continuing, according to reports. Chavan said in his resignation letter that he was stepping down so the government could fill the vacant position. He also described the committee assignment as a learning experience and wished the panel.