West Bengal Sets Up Panel to Examine Draft Uniform Civil Code Bill, Report Expected in 4 Weeks

MP, July 3, 2026, Kolkata: The state Cabinet on Thursday approved the constitution of a committee to examine the draft “Uniform Civil Code, West Bengal, 2026” Bill, and also cleared the formation of two committees on the publication of a ‘White Paper and Investment’.

The five-member White Paper committee will be headed by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, while the Investment committee will be chaired by Industries Minister Tapas Roy, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul announced after the Cabinet meeting.

The UCC committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, will prepare the legal framework. The panel comprises a retired IAS officer, a legal expert, an academic and a social worker, while an Additional Secretary-rank state officer will serve as Member-Secretary.

The committee will examine existing personal and family laws governing marriage, divorce, maintenance, succession, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships, among other civil matters, before recommending a uniform legal framework for the state. It has been asked to submit its report within four weeks.

On June 29, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had announced in the Assembly that the government intended to introduce the UCC Bill after receiving the committee’s recommendations and sought to implement the law in August.

In another major decision, the Cabinet approved a Rs 5,000 monthly increase in the remuneration of human resources engaged under the National Health Mission with effect from August 1, 2026.

To strengthen border security, the Cabinet also approved the perpetual transfer of 54.2485 acres of government vested land in Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Murshidabad, North Dinajpur and Malda districts to the Border Security Force and Sashastra Seema Bal for construction of border outposts, fencing, roads and related infrastructure.

The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Bengal Records Manual, 1943, waiving application and authentication fees for individuals seeking digitally signed copies of Record of Rights and plot information.

It also approved the creation of nine Fast Track Courts—one each in Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, Malda, Purulia, East Midnapore, Jhargram, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Kolkata—along with the creation and filling up of 36 posts.

The Cabinet further approved the draft “West Bengal Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2026”, introducing provisions relating to digital maintenance of records, issuance of certificates, delayed registration, an appeal mechanism and revised forms.

It also approved the introduction of the Bankura University (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to regulate provident fund matters in accordance with the West Bengal Non-Government Educational Institutions and Local Authorities (Control of Employees’ Provident Fund) Act, 1983.

The Cabinet also approved long-term settlement of government vested land in Cooch Behar, Bankura, West Midnapore and Malda districts for projects including power substations, an ESIC dispensary and a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.

It also adopted a new common Schedule of Rates for road and bridge works, along with CPWD Schedule of Rates for building works executed by the state Public Works Department.