Kumar Bahukhandi
Many Voices, One Consultation: Members of the Chhattisgarh UCC Committee, administrative officials and representatives of social, religious and community organisations participate in a public consultation in Durg on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The deliberations brought differing perspectives to the table on marriage, divorce, inheritance, maintenance and live-in relationships as the State moves ahead with drafting its proposed Uniform Civil Code-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Social, religious, political and community organisations present differing perspectives as State drafting committee widens public consultation on proposed Uniform Civil Code
Key Highlights
- UCC Drafting Committee holds a high-level public consultation in Durg.
- Marriage, divorce, inheritance, maintenance and live-in relationships among key subjects discussed.
- Social, religious, political, tribal and business organisations present their views.
- Participants express opinions both supporting and opposing aspects of the proposed UCC.
- Committee says suggestions will be studied while preparing the draft.
- Citizens and organisations can also submit suggestions through the State’s digital channels.
Raipur/Durg: Chhattisgarh’s consultation process on the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) moved forward on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 with a high-level meeting in Durg, where representatives of social, religious, political, tribal, business and citizens’ organisations presented their views on issues ranging from marriage and divorce to inheritance, maintenance and live-in relationships.
The meeting marked another stage in the public consultation being undertaken by the State-constituted UCC Drafting Committee as it works towards preparing a framework intended to be practical, inclusive and responsive to citizens.
Retired IAS officer M. K. Raut, senior advocate Mohan Pawar and retired principal Dr Jyoti Rani Singh participated in the consultation, during which representatives were given an opportunity to place their views before the committee.
Significantly, the discussion was not confined to voices supporting a common civil framework. Representatives expressed opinions both in favour of and against different aspects of the proposed UCC, bringing questions of traditional social practices into the same discussion as contemporary legal reforms.
Marriage, Inheritance and Live-In Relationships Under Discussion
Marriage, divorce, inheritance, maintenance and live-in relationships figured prominently during the deliberations — areas where personal laws, community practices, individual rights and questions of legal uniformity can intersect.
The committee members said suggestions received during the consultation would be studied while preparing the draft.
The breadth of participation was a notable feature of the Durg meeting. Representatives included those from the Sahu community, Manwa Kurmi community, Kanwar community, Chandranahu Kurmi community, Gondwana Seva Samiti, Andhra Samaj, Halwa Samaj, Tamrakar Samaj, Yadav Samaj, Kandra tribal community and Muslim Samaj Yuva Prabhag.
Representatives of Sarva Adivasi Samaj, Gondwana Gond Mahasabha, BSP ST Employees’ Association, Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha and Ram Mandir Trust, Bemetara, also participated.
Senior citizens’ organisations, pensioners’ groups, the Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha were among other organisations that placed suggestions before the committee.
The diversity of participants assumes importance because the exercise is intended to gather perspectives from communities that could be affected by changes in civil laws governing personal and family matters.
Public Can Also Send Suggestions Digitally
During the meeting, advocate Pranjal Sharma made a PowerPoint presentation explaining the proposed framework and provisions associated with the Uniform Civil Code.
The committee has also opened digital channels through which citizens and organisations can submit their suggestions.
Suggestions can be submitted through the Chhattisgarh UCC portal and the committee’s official email channel, allowing people beyond the physical consultation meetings to participate in the exercise.
The meeting was also attended by UCC Committee Member Secretary and Raipur Divisional Commissioner Shyam Dhawde, Durg Divisional Commissioner S. N. Rathore, Durg Collector Abhijeet Singh, ADM Virendra Singh, SDM Prafull Gupta, and administrative officials from Durg, Balod and Bemetara districts.
The Durg consultation indicates that the drafting exercise is now moving beyond institutional discussions towards a wider process of gathering community opinion. The eventual challenge before the committee will be to examine these differing viewpoints and determine how questions of equality, individual rights, established social practices and legal uniformity can be addressed in the proposed framework.
