Mumbai: Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Sheikh has demanded that the committee announced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday (9th) to draft the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Act has not given adequate representation to all minority communities and the Muslim community should be represented in this committee.

Speaking in this regard, MLA Raees Sheikh said that the minority community in Maharashtra is 20 percent. It includes six communities namely Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and Parsis. Among these communities, the largest number is only the Muslim community which constitutes 11 percent of the total population of the state. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today announced a 7-member committee in the Legislative Assembly. Not a single Muslim representative has been included in it. The Uniform Civil Code is most closely related to the Muslim community. There is confusion and fear among the Muslim communities regarding this code. Therefore, there is a need to give representation to the Muslim community in this committee. The state government cannot implement a uniform civil code without taking the Muslim community or the minority community as a whole into confidence. The government should not take a unilateral decision regarding this law. Raees Sheikh demanded that the committee be reconstituted by including a representative of the Muslim community in the 7-member committee headed by former Justice Ranjana Desai. MLA Raees Sheikh also said that we will soon meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in this regard.

Mumbai, July 9: In a major move towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the Maharashtra state government has constituted a high-level committee to draft the framework. Making the announcement in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared details regarding the committee’s chairperson and its members.

The panel has been tasked with studying the matter and submitting its comprehensive report within the next six months. The government aims to table the draft UCC bill during the upcoming winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur, where it will be presented before both Houses to initiate the legislative process for enactment, said the CM.

A seven-member committee has been formed under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai to chart out the framework for implementing the UCC in the state.

Announcing the panel in the state Assembly, CM Fadnavis stated, “A seven-member committee, comprising legal experts, educationists, and social workers, is being formed. The committee is expected to submit its report within the next six months. Our effort is to take this report and introduce the bill in both Houses during the winter session in Nagpur.”

The committee features a robust lineup of legal, administrative, and social experts, including three retired judges from the Supreme Court and High Courts, a constitutional expert, a former bureaucrat, and two prominent figures from the social sector.

Headed by Retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai, the committee includes Retd High Court Justice R.C. Chavan, Retd High Court Justice S.G. Mehare, D.K. Jain (Former Chief Secretary), Birendra Saraf (Former Advocate General), Padma Shri Ramesh Patange (Social Worker) and Dr Suvarna Rawal (Educationist/Constitutional Expert).

Earlier, Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam informed the state Legislative Assembly on June 23 that the Maharashtra government had approved the formation of a retired high court judge-led committee to submit a report on the implementation of UCC in Maharashtra. The UCC will be implemented in the state after receiving the committee report.

“The Maharashtra government is positive about the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. The Chief Minister has given his nod to form a committee led by a retired High Court judge to prepare a draft of the UCC. Once the report is submitted, the UCC will be implemented,” said MoS Kadam.

The minister was replying to the calling attention motion raised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Devyani Farande over the instances of triple talaq in Nasik district.

Minister Kadam said that once the UCC is brought, the ban on Polygamy will be included in the same. “The government is not against any religion nor an individual. The UCC, when brought, will be applicable to every individual, irrespective of the religion,” he said.

The Maharashtra government’s move comes after Uttarakhand, which was formed in 2000, recently became the first state in the country to successfully implement the Uniform Civil Code under the BJP-led government. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami officially enforced the law on January 27, 2025. The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly passed the UCC bill on February 7 last year, following a draft report submitted by an expert committee on October 18, 2024.

Following Uttarakhand’s lead, several other BJP-ruled states are now actively moving forward to implement a uniform law for all citizens.

Mumbai, July 9: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday urged citizens to take preventive measures against leptospirosis, warning that walking through rainwater or mud with open wounds significantly increases the risk of infection during the monsoon season.

In an advisory issued by its Public Health Department, the civic body appealed to people who have waded through stagnant rainwater or mud to seek medical advice and take preventive medication within 24 to 72 hours, as recommended by doctors.

Mumbai has been witnessing heavy rainfall over the past several days, resulting in waterlogging across many parts of the city. During this period, people walking through stagnant or slow-moving water are at an increased risk of contracting leptospirosis, particularly if they have cuts, wounds, or even minor scratches on their bodies, the BMC said, warning that leptospirosis is a serious disease and can become life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated in time.

According to the Public Health Department, rainwater mixed with contaminated mud may contain Leptospira bacteria (spirochaetes), which cause leptospirosis. The bacteria can enter the body through even small cuts or abrasions on the skin, leading to infection.

It has therefore advised anyone exposed to rainwater or mud to consult a doctor without delay and take preventive medication within the recommended 24 to 72-hour window.

Citizens have been asked to visit the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Clinics, BMC dispensaries, health centres and municipal hospitals, where medical consultations, health check-ups, guidance and preventive medicines are being provided free of cost.

The civic body has also urged residents to spread awareness among their family members, friends and neighbours about the disease and the importance of early preventive treatment.

The Public Health Department further advised people not to ignore fever during the monsoon season, as it could be a symptom of leptospirosis, dengue, or malaria. Residents experiencing fever or other related symptoms have been urged to seek immediate medical attention instead of resorting to self-medication.

As a preventive measure, the BMC has advised citizens with cuts or wounds on their feet to avoid walking through stagnant water. If it is unavoidable, they should wear rubber boots or other protective footwear. After coming into contact with rainwater, people should wash their feet thoroughly with soap and clean water and dry them properly to minimise the risk of infection.