The second day of the Rajasthan Assembly's Monsoon Session in Jaipur was marked by intense disruption and political drama, while amidst a heated atmosphere and a boycott by the opposition, the state government successfully introduced the Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel laid the bill on the table of the House. Following the introduction of the bill and subsequent protests, the proceedings of the Assembly were adjourned sine die.
Procedural Developments and Introduction
The introduction of the UCC Bill 2026 saw a minor procedural shift. Originally, the bill was slated to be presented by the Minister of State for Home, Jawahar Singh Bedham. However, due to the unavailability of the necessary documents with him at that moment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel stepped in to place the bill before the House. The bill has been formally introduced, but immediate discussion didn't take place. According to assembly rules, a minimum of 48 hours is typically provided to members to review a bill before a detailed discussion begins. Consequently, the comprehensive debate and further legislative processes regarding the UCC are expected to occur in the second phase of the current session.
Provisions of the Rajasthan UCC Bill 2026
The proposed Uniform Civil Code aims to establish a common legal framework for all citizens in the state regarding personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, while the government views this as a step towards equality and social justice. It's important to note that the bill reportedly includes provisions to exclude Scheduled Tribes and other groups whose traditional rights are protected under the Constitution from its jurisdiction.
Speaker's Clarification on Entry Rules
The session also witnessed a dispute between the treasury and opposition benches regarding entry into the Assembly premises. Speaker Vasudev Devnani clarified the standing orders, stating that specific arrangements exist for entry. He noted that members arriving by vehicle have a separate route, while those arriving on foot can use Gate number 6. He emphasized that this gate was open both yesterday and today. However, he made it clear that collective entry through the gates isn't permitted and has never been allowed. The Speaker described the attempt to climb over the gates as undesirable from the perspective of security and parliamentary decorum. He thanked the security personnel for handling the situation harmoniously and urged all members to follow parliamentary dignity.
Opposition Protest and Other Legislative Business
The opposition, led by Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, launched a scathing attack on the government. Jully accused the administration of pushing its own agenda while ignoring pressing public issues such as unemployment, education, and the problems faced by farmers and youth. He alleged that the opposition was being blocked both outside and inside the House. Following these allegations, Congress MLAs staged a walkout and boycotted the proceedings, while amidst this, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari also introduced the Rajasthan Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2026. Speaker Devnani reminded the House that financial approvals and legislative tasks are essential duties of the session and appealed for cooperation before adjourning the House sine die.