Justice R. C. Chavan Resigns From Maharashtra UCC Committee

Former Bombay High Court Judge R. C. Chavan resigned from the Maharashtra government's Uniform Civil Code (UCC) committee on September 19, 2026. In his resignation letter to chairperson Justice Ranjana Desai, Chavan alleged that committee meetings lacked substantive discussion and that member suggestions were ignored.

Chavan specifically criticized a public feedback questionnaire that reduced complex social issues, such as infertility and matrimonial disputes, to a binary yes-or-no format. He argued this approach undermined genuine consensus-building. Additionally, he questioned the influence of a non-member official from outside Maharashtra attending the meetings, suggesting it implied local officers were viewed as incompetent for the task.

The seven-member committee was established on July 9 by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to draft a UCC framework within six months, aiming to standardize laws on marriage, divorce, and property across religions. The government intends to table the resulting legislation during the winter session in Nagpur.

Opposition figures have reacted sharply to the developments. Congress MP Pawan Khera characterized the committee as a rubber stamp for pre-determined government goals, describing the process as a fixed match.