MUMBAI: Former Bombay High Court judge Justice R C Chavan has resigned from the Maharashtra government’s seven-member committee tasked with preparing a draft framework for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.
Chavan submitted his resignation on September 19, citing differences over the functioning of the committee and the process being followed to gather public feedback. In his resignation letter, he alleged that several agenda items were concluded without substantive discussion and that suggestions from committee members were not adequately considered.
He also raised concerns over the questionnaire being used to seek public views on issues including late marriages, infertility, marital instability and dispute resolution. According to Chavan, the process appeared to focus on obtaining “Yes or No” responses, rather than encouraging detailed views and broader consensus.
Another issue highlighted by the former judge was the involvement of an official from outside Maharashtra in the committee’s functioning. Chavan questioned the role of the non-member and its involvement in discussions related to modifications to the committee’s website.
The Maharashtra government constituted the committee in July 2026, under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai, to prepare a framework for implementing the UCC in the state.
Chavan said his resignation would allow the government to fill the vacant position on the panel.
