On Wednesday, the Congress party in Rajasthan mounted a strong objection to the BJP‑led government's decision to hold public consultations on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) without first releasing a draft of the proposed legislation. State Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra claimed that conducting hearings without a draft is a deliberate attempt to evade accountability and warned that the exercise threatens the state’s social cohesion.

Background and Procedure

On June 22, the BJP‑governed Rajasthan cabinet approved the formation of a high‑level committee headed by former Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai to draft a comprehensive legal framework for the UCC. The committee’s mandate includes codifying marriage, divorce, polygamy, live‑in relationships and inheritance rules under a single law. Public hearings have been scheduled in Jaipur for July 10‑11, and a dedicated web portal invites citizens to submit suggestions directly to the committee.

Congress’s Core Grievances

Dotasra argued, “No meaningful feedback can be given without a draft in the public domain. The government is using this process to avoid accountability on fundamental issues.” He further questioned why the administration is focusing on UCC while pressing concerns such as water scarcity, power outages, deteriorating roads, rising crime, and delayed agricultural inputs remain unaddressed. Senior Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully and Minority Department head M.D. Chopdar, echoed the demand for full transparency by publishing the draft before any consultation.

Proposed Changes and Potential Impact

The UCC proposal envisions mandatory registration of marriages and divorces, a blanket ban on polygamy, compulsory registration of live‑in relationships, and equal inheritance rights for sons and daughters. If enacted, personal laws governing different religious communities would be superseded, raising questions about the balance between uniformity and cultural diversity, especially in states with distinct tribal or minority protections.

Looking Ahead

Uttarakhand pioneered a UCC law in February 2024, followed by Gujarat, Assam and a similar committee in Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan becomes the fifth BJP‑ruled state to pursue the agenda. Opposition parties label the move as a distraction from development, law‑and‑order, and public welfare. Should Congress’s demands be ignored, street protests and heightened political tension could influence the upcoming state assembly elections, potentially reshaping the state's power dynamics.