Kolkata: The Bengal cabinet on Thursday cleared the formation of an expert committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, to examine the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill for West Bengal and set a four-week time frame to submit its recommendations.Urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said the panel has been given four weeks to scrutinise the draft legislation, aiming to table it in the state assembly this Aug. “The state cabinet approved the formation of a committee to examine the West Bengal Uniform Civil Code 2026 draft bill,” Paul said.CM Suvendu Adhikari formally launched the process of implementing UCC in Bengal by announcing it in the assembly on Monday, fulfilling a key poll agenda of BJP.Justice Desai had previously headed the UCC committees for Uttarakhand and Gujarat, and currently leads similar panels for Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Officials said the panel is likely to study and adopt models similar to Assam’s UCC, given that both states share comparable demographic challenges regarding migration from Bangladesh.While the cabinet appointed Justice Desai as the expert committee chairperson to establish a robust legal framework before introducing the bill, Paul did not disclose the names of the other members, who are expected to include bureaucrats, legal experts and social workers.A senior official said the committee will invite views and opinions from individual citizens, NGOs, political parties and various community and religious representatives. These suggestions must be submitted within a specified time frame using valid identity proofs, after which the panel will send its recommendations to Nabanna.“The committee is expected to invite public suggestions and examine existing personal laws before submitting its report. The state govt can accept the recommendations in full or introduce amendments,” the official added.Sources said the panel will undertake a detailed study of existing personal laws, constitutional provisions and judicial precedents while reviewing UCC legislations enacted in other states. Assam’s law, for instance, covers marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships while exempting Scheduled Tribes in line with constitutional safeguards.Rather than reproducing any existing state law, the Bengal panel aims to prepare a state-specific draft. The committee is expected to identify provisions that can withstand constitutional scrutiny, especially regarding equality, religious freedom and legislative competence. Justice Desai is expected to steer consultations aimed at balancing constitutional guarantees with the state’s objective of introducing a common civil law.The committee’s final report will form the basis of the draft bill to be placed before the state cabinet and subsequently the state assembly, helping the govt defend the legislation against inevitable legal challenges. While supporters argue that UCC will promote gender justice and equality, critics contend it threatens cultural and religious diversity. Consequently, the state govt will position its proposal as one that is strictly constitutionally compliant.Justice Desai is expected to leverage her extensive experience to adapt the legislation to Bengal’s unique demographic and legal landscape. When contacted, Justice Desai declined to comment on the matter.