West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday asserted that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in the state, saying that the BJP government is committed to fulfilling its poll promise. Addressing the media, Adhikari said, "The Uniform Civil Code will happen in Bengal. A nationalist party has come to power, and we will implement it following the constitutional procedure."
The Chief Minister said the state government has already constituted a committee under the leadership of a sitting inquiry authority to examine the framework for implementing the UCC. He added that the government will place further details before the West Bengal Assembly on Monday. According to Adhikari, the implementation process will follow the model adopted in states such as Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Assam.
The proposed UCC Bill seeks to establish a common civil legal framework governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, succession and live-in relationships, irrespective of religion. Among its key provisions are a ban on polygamy and mandatory registration of live-in relationships. The BJP had promised to introduce the Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal during the Assembly election campaign.
The announcement has sparked fresh political debate in the state, with the government maintaining that the legislation will ensure equal civil laws for all citizens, while opposition parties are expected to raise objections during the Assembly session. The draft Bill is likely to be circulated among MLAs before it is formally introduced for discussion.
