West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday (June 26, 2026) said that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in the State through a proper procedure instituted by a committee headed by a judge.
“The way it (UCC) was implemented in Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Assam by following a procedure. Similarly, it will be implemented in West Bengal. I will inform the Assembly on Monday (on the development),” Mr. Adhikari said .
The remarks by the Chief Minister come at a time when speculations are rife about UCC being introduced in the ongoing session of West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The implementation of UCC was promised by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the campaign for the West Bengal Assembly election. Mr. Shah had said that if BJP comes to power in West Bengal, UCC will be implemented in six months.
Other Ministers in the State Cabinet have welcomed the move. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sankar Ghosh said that the implementation of UCC will be a historic step.
“UCC (Uniform Civil Code) is one of the utmost important Bill to be introduced in West Bengal. The State government has decided to introduce UCC on Monday. There are other States such as Uttarakhand which has already passed the Bill. The UCC Bill has already been placed in the Assembly in Bihar and a few other States. So, this is one of the historical steps taken by West Bengal,” the Minister said.
The Trinamool Congress in a statement said that reform cannot be imposed; it must be built through dialogue, trust, and constitutional values.
“Our concern is with the agenda of the BJP. Whether a UCC is being pursued through consensus, constitutional morality, and genuine concern or whether it is being used and weaponised as another instrument of political polarisation. India’s strength lies in combining equality with respect for diversity,” the party said in a statement.
Observing that no personal law should perpetuate discrimination, the Trinamool said that “the BJP is known for exploiting sensitive issues for political gain”.
“There must be greater consultation with all stakeholders such as vulnerable groups and adivasi communities,” the Trinamool Congress said. Adivasi communities in West Bengal have expressed concern over the implementation of UCC. Sources in the West Bengal government said that tribals will be kept out of UCC.
Published - June 26, 2026 12:59 pm IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
