Legal Notice Sent to Gujarat CM Over UCC Committee

Surat : Surat-based social worker and businessman Abdul Vahab Mohammed Shabbir Sopariwala has issued a legal notice to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, demanding proper representation of religious minorities in the five-member committee formed for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Gujarat.

Sopariwala has argued that Parsis, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists are significant minority communities in the state, yet none of them have been included in the panel. He has warned that if the government does not ensure minority representation, he will file a petition in the Gujarat High Court challenging the constitution of the committee.

On February 4, 2025, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, along with State Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi, announced the formation of the five-member UCC committee, which is headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.

The announcement, made in a press conference, stated that the panel would oversee the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code in the state. However, the committee’s composition has sparked controversy, with critics alleging that it is biased and does not reflect the diverse religious demographics of Gujarat.

Sopariwala has strongly criticized the appointment of Justice Ranjana Desai as the chairperson, citing her previous role in heading Uttarakhand’s UCC committee.

He has claimed that the way UCC was implemented in Uttarakhand, which allegedly excluded tribal communities, indicates a politically motivated agenda that may be replicated in Gujarat. According to him, the concerns and submissions of religious minorities against her appointment are being ignored, raising questions about the impartiality of the committee’s decisions.

The neutrality of other members of the committee has also been questioned, particularly those from Surat. Dr. Dakshesh Thakar, a former Vice Chancellor of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU), is currently the head of Vanita Vishram University, a private institution that critics claim has close ties with the Gujarat government.

His public praise of the ruling BJP government has led to concerns about whether he can remain unbiased in UCC deliberations. Another committee member, Gitaben Shroff, is linked to the government-funded Anis organization and has authored a book praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Religious groups argue that her affiliations make her an unsuitable choice for an impartial role in the committee.

Sopariwala and other opponents of Gujarat’s UCC committee have raised constitutional concerns over the state’s decision to move forward with its own UCC implementation. They argue that Article 44 of the Indian Constitution calls for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code at the national level, not on a state-by-state basis. Critics claim that a state-level UCC could marginalize religious communities and violate constitutional principles.