The Bihar government on Tuesday rejected the 16-point questionnaire on the Uniform Civil Code sent by the Law Commission of India, NDTV reported. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged the Law Commission to consult the “affected parties”, and said that such an important change cannot be contemplated on a yes or no basis.

“All sects and communities should discuss and debate on the matter and be aware of each other’s opinions, before any recommendation is made in the matter,” the statement issued by the Bihar government said, according to DNA. “Different customs and rituals have been in practice among followers of various religions in the country for centuries, yet only personal laws of the Hindu religion have been codified,” Nitish Kumar said in his letter to Law Commission chairman Justice BS Chauhan according to The Telegraph.

With this, Bihar has become the first state to take a stand on the issue of Uniform Civil Code. The Uniform Civil Code has been a contentious issue. Currently, major religious groups in India have separate personal laws, which include matters such as marriage and inheritance. The Uniform Civil Code seeks to replace these separate codes and create a common law for every Indian citizen.