Government of West Bengal. to introduce the Uniform Civil Code Act soon

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Fie. | Photo credit: PTI

The West Bengal government will introduce a bill in the Assembly in August to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the state, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Monday (June 29, 2026).

Mr. Adhikari informed the assembly that the state cabinet would give its in-principle approval to the UCC on July 2. He said the state government had set up a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to conduct a comprehensive study of family laws in the state. The committee will submit a report to the state government within four weeks. The committee will have one retired IAS officer, one legal expert, one educationist, one social worker and one other secretary to the state government. In addition to family laws relating to marriage and succession, the committee will also deal with live-in relationships.

“The BJP in its manifesto has promised a Uniform Civil Code in the state within six months of coming to power. We believe in Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s ideology that there cannot be two sets of laws for the people in one country,” Mr. Adhikari said.

Tribal groups liberated

The chief minister added that Adivasis, indigenous people, Kurmis and other recognized ancient tribal communities of the state would be excluded from the proposed law. Since tribal communities are out of its scope, the law may impact Muslims and Christians who have a different set of family laws. West Bengal, the country’s fourth most populous state, has about 27% Muslim population, according to the latest census.

He said the state government would take inspiration from Gujarat, Assam and Uttarakhand where UCC was introduced.

While the Chief Minister was making a statement in the House, Trinamool Congress MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrat Banerjee raised slogans. “If anyone has any objection or opinion, it can be directly submitted to the committee headed by Ranjana Desai,” the chief minister said.

Published – 29 Jun 2026 20:50 IST