West Bengal Government Forms Committee to Examine Draft Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026
The Government of West Bengal has issued a notification announcing the formation of a high-level committee to examine the Draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC), West Bengal, 2026. The notification, issued by the Judicial Department on 10 July 2026, marks a significant step towards reviewing a comprehensive legal framework for personal civil matters in the state.
DownloadUniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026
According to the notification, the move is based on Article 44 of the Constitution of India, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy. Article 44 states that the State should endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for all citizens across the country.
The proposed draft bill aims to establish a common legal framework for all residents of West Bengal, irrespective of their religion, faith, or community. The framework is intended to govern key personal civil matters, including:
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Intestate succession
- Testamentary succession
Recognizing the importance and wide-ranging implications of the proposed legislation, the West Bengal Cabinet has approved the constitution of an expert committee to conduct a detailed examination and review of the draft bill before any further action.
Committee Members
The committee comprises eminent personalities from the judiciary, administration, academia, and legal profession:
- Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai – Chairperson
- Tathagata Roy – Former Governor of Meghalaya
- Dushyant Naraiala, IAS – Resident Commissioner
- Shatrughna Singh, IAS (Retd.) – Senior Advisor
- Sanghamitra Ghosh, IAS – Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs (Member-Convener)
- Dr. Ratna Bhattacharya – Retired Professor and Anthropologist
- Gopalchandra Misra – Former Vice-Chancellor and Sanskrit Scholar
- Osman Gani Mallick – Advocate, Calcutta High Court
- Nirmalya Bhattacharya – Former Executive Director and Social Sector Expert
The committee has been entrusted with examining every aspect of the draft legislation and providing recommendations to the Government.
Significance
The formation of this committee represents the initial stage of the legislative process. At present, the notification relates to the review of a draft bill and does not mean that a Uniform Civil Code has been implemented in West Bengal. Any proposed law would still need to undergo the required legislative procedures before coming into effect.
The notification reflects the state's intention to undertake a detailed legal and administrative review of the proposed Uniform Civil Code while considering its broader social and constitutional implications.
