In a major legislative development, the Government of West Bengal has officially initiated steps toward implementing a state-level Uniform Civil Code. Via Notification No. 150-JD/L/16M/2026, issued from the Writers’ Buildings in Kolkata, the state government has announced the constitution of a high-level committee of eminence to thoroughly review a freshly formulated draft legislation titled “The Uniform Civil Code, West Bengal, 2026.”
The notification cites the provisions of Article 44 in Part IV of the Directive Principles of State Policy under the Constitution of India, which emphasizes that the State shall endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code for its citizens throughout the territory of India.
Purpose of the West Bengal UCC Draft Bill 2026
According to the official document signed by Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, the state has already formulated the blueprint for a comprehensive legal framework.
The primary goals of The Uniform Civil Code, West Bengal, 2026 include:
- Establishing a unified and consistent legal framework for all citizens residing in the state, irrespective of their religion, faith, or community identity.
- Providing streamlined, uniform regulations concerning critical personal civil matters.
- Governing key personal laws including marriage, divorce, intestate succession, and testamentary succession.
Given the voluminous nature and wide ramifications of uniform civil law, the Governor has ordered the immediate formation of a dedicated committee to examine the draft bill from all legal and social angles. The decision follows a resolution taken during the 6th Meeting of the State Cabinet held on July 2, 2026 (Cabinet Sectt. U/O No. CAB(D)-67).
Who is on the West Bengal UCC Committee? Panel Members
The newly constituted committee features a prominent 9-member panel consisting of retired judiciary members, veteran administrative officers, and academicians:
- Chairperson: Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai
- Member: Tathagata Roy, Former Governor of Meghalaya
- Member: Dushyant Naraiala, IAS, Resident Commissioner
- Member & Senior Advisor: Shatrughna Singh, IAS (Retd.)
- Member-Convenor: Sanghamitra Ghosh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs, Government of West Bengal
- Member: Dr. Ratna Bhattacharya, Retd. Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Anthropology, Bangabasi College
- Member: Gopalchandra Misra, Former Vice Chancellor (University of Gour Banga), Former Dean (Faculty of Arts, Rabindra Bharati University), and Retired Professor of Sanskrit (Rabindra Bharati University)
- Member: Osman Gani Mallick, Advocate, High Court, Calcutta
- Member: Nirmalya Bhattacharyya, Former Executive Director, Former National Joint Project Coordinator, and Former Joint General Secretary, Vice President, Bengal Sambhag
What’s Next for the West Bengal UCC Bill?
The high-level committee will evaluate the structural nuances of the draft bill, ensuring all statutory provisions fit the unique socio-cultural fabric of West Bengal while aligning with constitutional paradigms. The panel’s ultimate findings and suggested revisions will pave the way for the bill to be presented before the State Assembly.
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