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Justice R.C. Chavan Resigns from Maharashtra Uniform Civil Code Panel
By Drooid · · How we work
Resignation Highlights Procedural Disagreements
On September 19, former Bombay High Court judge Justice R. C. Chavan submitted his resignation from the Maharashtra government’s Uniform Civil Code (UCC) committee. In his resignation email, he cited “differences over the panel’s functioning” and raised specific procedural concerns.
Background: Maharashtra’s UCC Committee
The Maharashtra government created a seven-member committee in July to draft a framework for implementing a Uniform Civil Code in the state. The panel is chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai. Other members include former Bombay High Court judges R. C. Chavan and S. G. Mehare, former Chief Secretary D. K. Jain, former Advocate General Virendra Saraf, Constitution expert Ramesh Patange, and educationist-activist Suvarna Rawal. The committee’s mandate is to prepare draft rules and recommendations and to seek public feedback through an online questionnaire.
Concerns Raised by Justice Chavan
Justice Chavan’s resignation letter detailed several grievances:
- Insufficient deliberation – He described meetings as being “wrapped up without substantive deliberation,” noting that discussions were concluded “without beating around the bush.”
- Questionnaire process – Members had proposed a more nuanced questionnaire, including “yes-or-no” responses and professional review by professors under Dr. Suvarna Rawal. The chairperson, however, had already circulated a finalised questionnaire and indicated it would be uploaded once the website was ready.
- External officer involvement – Chavan flagged the participation of an officer from another state, questioning the competence of Maharashtra officials and the officer’s role in the committee.
- Non-member attendance – He alleged that a non-member attended a meeting, offering suggestions on website modifications, which led him to doubt the clarity of the meeting’s composition.
Official Response
The Maharashtra government accepted Justice Chavan’s resignation on the following Monday. No public comment was recorded from Chairperson Justice Desai or other officials regarding the specific procedural allegations.
Potential Impact on UCC Drafting
Justice Chavan’s departure underscores tensions within the committee over how public input should be gathered and incorporated. His criticism of a simplified “yes-or-no” questionnaire suggests a concern that the feedback mechanism may not capture the complexity of issues such as late marriages, infertility, marital instability, and dispute resolution. If the government proceeds with the current questionnaire format, the depth of public consultation could be limited, potentially affecting the credibility and inclusiveness of the eventual UCC draft. Conversely, the resignation creates a vacancy that the state must fill, possibly delaying the committee’s timeline.
Verbatim Quote
“Now as a free citizen, I will be free to air my views,” — Justice R. C. Chavan, high court judge