Rajasthan govt mulls introducing UCC bill in upcoming assembly session

Kota, July 7 (PTI) Rajasthan Urban Development and Self-Governance Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra on Tuesday said that the BJP government in the state may bring a Uniform Civil Code bill in the next assembly session and fulfil the administration's longstanding objective. He also announced that the Centre has extended the Jal Jeevan Mission duration in the state and released fresh funding, adding that the move will accelerate clean water access across the state. Kharra was speaking to mediapersons after visiting Shehari Seva Shivir, organised by Kota Development Authority (KDA) here, where he also asserted that the ruling party is prepared for local body elections. Elaborating on the plan to bring a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), he said, "Establishing equal civil laws for all citizens has been a longstanding objective, and the current administration is taking decisive measures to materialise it.” The Rajasthan government is actively working towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and is considering introducing a bill in the upcoming legislative assembly session, Kharra said. Criticising the previous administration in the state for "widespread irregularities" in the initial implementation of the water mission, he claimed that the result was major financial and developmental losses for Rajasthan. He also said that the JMM extension and subsequent funding follow a direct appeal from Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the local body and municipal elections in Rajasthan, Kharra said the state government has successfully executed all pre-election responsibilities. "These tasks, including municipal boundary extensions and ward delimitation, were completed ahead of the initial March 2026 target," he said. Referring to the Rajasthan High Court order in the matter, he said the court has affirmed that the state government remains fully competent to alter municipal boundaries and re-delimit wards as required. "With all legislative and procedural work cleared by the state government, the onus of scheduling and executing the local body polls now rests entirely with the State Election Commission. Additionally, the State Backward Classes (OBC) Commission is actively addressing anomalies discovered during the local-level ‘triple-test’ data collection process to ensure robust legal standing for political reservations," Kharra told reporters. Addressing the delay in compiling and releasing the Backward Classes Commission data, the minister clarified that the administrative delay is "strictly due to a shortage of manpower", as local bodies have been "occupied with ongoing census duties and previous SIR responsibilities". Countering the opposition, which has alleged that the local body elections are being delayed out of a fear of political defeat, Kharra said, "If the opposition truly wants local body elections to be conducted without political reservations for backward classes, they should submit their demands in writing.” PTI COR PRK