Naga bodies say no to UCC
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, July 12 2023: The United Naga Council (UNC), Poumai Naga Union (PNU) and Naga Women's Union (NWU) have come out strongly against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill proposed by the BJP-led Government at the Centre.

In a letter addressed to the Chairperson of Law Commission of India through the Deputy Commissioner, Senapati, the UNC stated that enacting a common civil code or common law for every citizen residing in India irrespective of religion and caste would be in violation of the Constitution.

Saying that personal laws governing various communities are based on their respective religious texts, the UNC continued that different religions have different laws regulating marriages, divorces, inheritance and other family related matters.

For instance, in tribal areas of the North-East, customary practices including land holding system, law of inheritance of properties, marriages and cases of divorce, succession, adoptions are all governed under the respective tribal customary practices, the UNC said and appealed to the Government to exclude the tribal population in North East India from the ambit of UCC.

The letter signed by Ng Lorho, president and Vareiyo Shatsang, general secretary of UNC also mentioned that the proposed UCC negates the basic structure and principle of the Indian Constitution such as secularism, pluralism etc.

The Central Government pushing for "One Nation, One Law" is a matter of great concern for all non-Hindus minorities in India especially Nagas having distinct identity, practice and system, the UNC said and added that they oppose the intent and objective of promulgating 'such law of totalitarianism in Naga homeland' .

The PNU, while raising opposition against UCC, also submitted a memorandum to the Chairperson of Law Commission of India through Senapati Deputy Commissioner.

The Law Commission of India had on June 14, 2023 issued a notification inviting views and opinions on UCC.

The PNU said that UCC, if implemented, would adversely affect the Naga customary laws existing since 'time immemorial' .

Cautioning that India may fall apart if the Centre implements the uniform code despite serious objection, the PNU appealed to the Law Commission not to proceed with the proposed UCC.

The PNU said that they have submitted a similar copy to the President, the Prime Minister of India, Union Minister of Law & Justice and MP (Lok Sabha), Outer Manipur.

The Naga Women's Union (NWU), on the other hand, said that they would never allow implementation of UCC in Naga homeland.

In a similar letter addressed to the Chairperson of Law Commission through Senapati DC, the NWU said that enacting a common law for every citizen irrespective of religion and caste itself would be against the idea of secularism.

Saying that Nagas in North-East India have its own set of customs, traditions and personal laws, the NWU continued that the concept of UCC, however, seems more like a political ploy to appease the majority by undermining the interest of minorities.

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