Arjun Ram Meghwal affirms commitment to Uniform Civil Code in India

Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal has stated that the Indian government is committed to implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) nationwide. Meghwal noted that the UCC has a constitutional basis under Article 44 and cited previous Supreme Court observations on the matter. He argued against limiting the legislation to specific states, pointing to the long-standing common civil code in Goa as a precedent.

Several states have already moved toward implementing the code, including Uttarakhand, which enacted a UCC law in February 2024, and Gujarat. Assam became the first northeastern state to pass such legislation in May 2026, while Madhya Pradesh has also taken steps toward adoption following a unanimous cabinet approval.

In a separate discussion regarding judicial reforms, Meghwal mentioned plans to introduce evening courts in Bihar, Delhi, and Andhra Pradesh to reduce litigation and resolve disputes more efficiently. He also addressed political tensions, defending the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls as a routine democratic exercise and dismissing opposition claims regarding constitutional changes.