The Uniform Civil Code Bill was unanimously approved by the Madhya Pradesh cabinet during a special meeting held on July 19. The Bill will be presented for approval in the State Legislative Assembly during its five-day monsoon session beginning on July 20.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said after the cabinet meeting that the proposed legislation would ensure that matters related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession are regulated through a common legal framework applicable to all religious communities in the state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, holds a strong majority in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, with more than 160 members in the 230-member house, making the Bill’s passage likely.
Yadav said the proposed Uniform Civil Code is intended to protect women’s dignity, guarantee equal rights, encourage social harmony, and strengthen national unity by eliminating discriminatory practices.
However, the Chief Minister clarified that indigenous tribal communities following traditional beliefs and customs would remain outside the scope of the proposed law.
According to the draft Bill, individuals would continue to have the freedom to follow their religious rituals, worship practices, and ceremonies. However, in matters related to inheritance, sons and daughters would receive equal rights over parental property, ending discrimination against daughters who were previously denied equal shares.
The proposed law also states that only one marriage would be permitted during the lifetime of a spouse and that divorce would be legally valid only through proper legal procedures and a court decision.
The Bill makes registration of marriages and live-in relationships mandatory with the government. A married person who enters into another marriage or a live-in relationship with another woman while the first marriage remains valid could face imprisonment of up to five years, making violation of monogamy a criminal offense.
Muslim cleric Mohammad Umar Qasmi opposed the proposed legislation, arguing that it could negatively affect citizens’ constitutional rights to practice and propagate their religion and preserve their cultural and religious traditions.
Islamic personal law allows Muslim men to have up to four wives at the same time. Qasmi said the proposed Uniform Civil Code conflicts with Muslim personal laws, which he described as an important part of community life.
Speaking to UCA News on July 20, Qasmi urged the state government to protect the personal laws and traditional rights of all religious communities before implementing such legislation.
Christian leaders in Madhya Pradesh also expressed concerns, stating that the proposed law could impact religious freedom and minority rights.
Daniel John, a Catholic leader based in the state capital Bhopal, said he did not believe the legislation would benefit the community. He expressed concern that the law could become another instrument, similar to the state’s strict anti-conversion law, in the hands of aggressive Hindu groups that have allegedly targeted Christian communities and institutions through accusations of conversion.
Professor Shaizal Batra, a Sikh academic, said the Sikh community has consistently supported national unity while also protecting religious identity and individual rights.
Batra said any legal reforms should be introduced after broad consultations involving religious communities, legal experts, and civil society so that concerns from all stakeholders are considered and addressed.
He emphasized the need for a balanced approach that promotes gender justice, social harmony, and equality before the law without weakening the freedom of communities to practice and preserve their distinct religious traditions.
With the proposed legislation, Madhya Pradesh is set to become the fourth state in India to adopt a Uniform Civil Code after Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Assam, all governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Uttarakhand became the first state to implement the UCC in 2024, followed by Gujarat and Assam earlier this year.
Goa, on India’s western coast, remains the only region with a common civil code, introduced during Portuguese colonial rule.
India currently follows a system of multiple personal laws based on the customs and traditions of different religious communities. Rights related to women, children, marriage, inheritance, and family matters vary across communities depending on the applicable legal framework.
The push for a Uniform Civil Code has been a long-standing demand of Hindu groups supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has included the implementation of a common civil code for the country’s 1.4 billion people among its major electoral promises under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The Madhya Pradesh initiative marks another significant step in the ongoing national debate over balancing equality under a common legal framework with the protection of religious and cultural freedoms.
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