Rajasthan Forms Uniform Civil Code Committee Under Justice Desai
Rajasthan has formed a five-member committee, chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, to draft a Uniform Civil Code for the state, the government announced on June 22, 2026. The committee is expected to examine marriage, divorce, a ban on polygamy, mandatory registration of live-in relationships, and equal inheritance rights across religious communities. Public consultations will be held at the divisional level before the panel finalises its recommendations. The move follows Uttarakhand's earlier implementation of a state-level UCC and adds Rajasthan to the growing list of states actively pursuing uniform personal law reform.
What the Committee Is Expected to Examine
The scope outlined for the Rajasthan committee mirrors, in broad strokes, the approach Uttarakhand took with its own UCC. Marriage and divorce rules would potentially be harmonised across religious communities, replacing the current system where Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and other communities are governed by separate personal laws for these matters. A ban on polygamy would primarily affect communities where personal law currently permits multiple marriages, most notably under certain interpretations of Muslim personal law, though the specifics will depend on how the committee frames the provision.
Mandatory registration of live-in relationships is one of the more contentious proposals under consideration. Under the Uttarakhand model, couples in live-in relationships are required to register their relationship with local authorities, with penalties for non-compliance. Critics have argued this intrudes on personal privacy and autonomy, particularly for young adults and inter-caste or inter-faith couples who may fear family or social backlash if such registrations become discoverable. Supporters counter that registration provides a documentary trail that can help resolve disputes over property, maintenance, or paternity later.
Equal Inheritance and Its Practical Effect
Equal inheritance rights, if implemented uniformly, would represent one of the most significant practical changes emerging from this exercise. Currently, inheritance in India is governed by a patchwork of personal laws, including the Hindu Succession Act, Muslim personal law principles derived from Sharia, Christian succession rules under the Indian Succession Act, and others, each with different rules on how property passes to children, spouses, and other relatives, and in some systems, different shares for sons and daughters or male and female heirs. A uniform code that equalises inheritance shares regardless of religion or gender would be a substantial departure from the status quo and would likely face the most sustained legal and political resistance of any single provision.
The Constitutional Basis and Likely Legal Challenges
Article 44 of the Constitution directs the state to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens, but as a Directive Principle of State Policy, it is not directly enforceable in court. States have used this as the constitutional anchor for enacting their own UCC frameworks, as Uttarakhand did. However, any Rajasthan UCC will need to navigate the same tension that has surrounded the Uttarakhand law: personal laws governing marriage and inheritance for religious minorities are often argued to fall within the protection of Article 25, which guarantees freedom of religion, and Article 29, which protects the right of communities to preserve their distinct culture.
Expect legal challenges from religious organisations and civil society groups on the ground that specific provisions, particularly around polygamy bans and inheritance, disproportionately restructure Muslim personal law without adequate consultation, or that mandatory live-in registration violates the right to privacy recognised by the Supreme Court as part of Article 21. The outcome of ongoing litigation over Uttarakhand's UCC will likely shape how courts approach any future challenge to Rajasthan's version.
What Residents Should Watch For During Public Consultations
Since consultations will be held at the divisional level, Rajasthan residents, particularly those from minority religious communities, married couples, and those in live-in relationships, have a direct opportunity to submit views before the draft is finalised. Those currently navigating marriage or relationship registration under existing law should familiarise themselves with how to register a marriage in India under the Hindu Marriage Act and Special Marriage Act, since any UCC provisions are likely to modify or replace these existing registration pathways once enacted.
It is also worth understanding the current debate by reviewing how Uttarakhand implemented its Uniform Civil Code and the resulting national debate, since Rajasthan's committee is likely to draw heavily on that precedent, both in terms of substantive provisions and the legal challenges that followed implementation.
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Key Takeaways
Rajasthan formed a five-member UCC drafting committee headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai on June 22, 2026.
The proposed UCC is expected to address marriage, divorce, a polygamy ban, mandatory live-in registration, and equal inheritance.
Public consultations will occur at the divisional level before the committee finalises its recommendations.
The move follows Uttarakhand's UCC implementation and is likely to face similar constitutional challenges under Articles 25 and 29.
Given the scale of potential change, individuals with pending marriage, inheritance, or succession matters should track the committee's progress closely. Those planning to formalise a live-in relationship in the interim, or wondering how registration requirements might change under the new code, should also review how to make a valid will in India, including execution, witnesses, registration and probate, since equal inheritance provisions under a future UCC could affect how existing wills are interpreted or need to be updated.
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