Mumbai: Former Bombay High Court judge Justice R.C. Chavan has resigned from the committee formed by the Maharashtra government to prepare a draft for implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

Justice Chavan raised objections to the method being used by the committee to seek public views on important social issues.

In a letter addressed to the committee’s chairperson, former Bombay High Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai, Justice Chavan said that complex social subjects should not be restricted to simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ options.

According to him, such issues require broader discussion and an understanding of different perspectives, particularly because one of the committee’s key objectives is to work towards building consensus on social issues.

The former judge referred in his letter to issues including increasing age at marriage, reproductive problems and rising marital disputes. He argued that dividing public opinion on such complex subjects into only two options would not adequately capture people’s actual views and circumstances.

He also said that an agenda for one of the committee meetings included finalising the questionnaire. However, according to Justice Chavan, the committee chairperson had already finalised the questions and circulated them among the members.

He further stated that the questionnaire was to be uploaded online after the website became operational.

Justice Chavan’s resignation has brought renewed attention to the public consultation process surrounding Maharashtra’s proposed Uniform Civil Code draft.

The committee’s next steps and the method it uses to gather public responses will now remain a focus of attention.