Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Justice RC Chavan Quits Maharashtra UCC Panel Over Questionnaire
Justice RC Chavan was a retired judge who served on a committee planning a Uniform Civil Code for Maharashtra.
The committee is led by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai.
The committee wanted to ask people questions about the proposed law.
Chavan felt that many questions allowed only a yes-or-no answer.
He believed complicated subjects need fuller explanations and discussion.
He also questioned why someone outside the committee took part in a meeting.
Chavan resigned on September 19, and the Maharashtra government accepted his resignation.
The committee is still working on its recommendations.
The state government has said it hopes to introduce legislation after receiving the committee’s report.
Retired Bombay High Court judge Justice RC Chavan resigned from Maharashtra’s seven-member Uniform Civil Code panel on September 19.
He objected to a public questionnaire that reduced complex social issues to yes-or-no responses.
Chavan said the committee should seek broader public views and help build consensus on issues including marriage and dispute resolution.
He also questioned the participation of an officer or non-member from outside the committee and alleged meetings ended without substantive discussion.
The Maharashtra government accepted his resignation, while the panel continues preparing a UCC framework for possible legislation during the winter session.
- Who
- Justice RC Chavan, a retired Bombay High Court judge and member of Maharashtra’s UCC committee, resigned; the panel is chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai.
- What
- Chavan resigned from the committee after objecting to its questionnaire, meeting procedures and the participation of an outside officer or non-member.
- When
- He resigned on September 19, after the committee’s second meeting; the state government accepted the resignation the following Monday.
- Where
- The resignation concerned Maharashtra’s Uniform Civil Code committee, whose meeting was held online.
- Why
- Chavan said yes-or-no questions were unsuitable for complex social issues and did not support broad consultation or consensus-building; he also questioned the involvement of an outsider in the committee’s work.
Chavan’s Concerns
Committee and Government Approach
Public questionnaire
Chavan’s Concerns
Justice RC Chavan argued that complex issues such as delayed marriages, infertility, unstable marriages and matrimonial disputes should not be reduced to yes-or-no answers, because broader views and consensus were needed.
Committee and Government Approach
The reported committee approach was to provide people an opportunity to answer the questions in a yes-or-no format, which Chavan said would make the responses easier to analyze.
Committee functioning
Chavan’s Concerns
Chavan alleged that agenda items were concluded quickly and that meetings lacked substantive discussion.
Committee and Government Approach
The committee proceeded with work on its questionnaire and website, with the chairperson directing officials to make further website changes, according to the reports.
Outside participation
Chavan’s Concerns
Chavan questioned the presence of an officer or non-member from outside the committee and said he did not understand the person’s role.
Committee and Government Approach
The outside officer reportedly commented on changes needed for the website; the reports do not provide a public response from the committee disputing Chavan’s account.
- Committee formed
- Maharashtra established the seven-member UCC committee in July.
- Committee chair
- Retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai.
- Resignation
- Justice RC Chavan resigned on September 19, following the committee’s second meeting.
- Government response
- The Maharashtra government accepted his resignation the following Monday.
- Main objection
- Chavan criticized a public-feedback questionnaire based largely on yes-or-no answers.
- Committee mandate
- The panel was given six months to examine legal, social, cultural and administrative aspects of a UCC and submit a report.
- Proposed next step
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government aims to table UCC legislation during the winter session after receiving the committee’s report.
