SHILLONG, May 27: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday said he cannot comment on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) without first examining its format and provisions, while noting that UCC laws introduced in Uttarakhand and Assam have exempted tribal laws, easing concerns over Meghalaya’s matrilineal system.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said the contents of the proposed code are more important than the term itself.
“I have been very clear on UCC from one perspective — I cannot comment on a UCC unless I see the format of the UCC,” he said.
He stressed that the meaning and scope of a “Uniform Civil Code” must first be understood before any position can be taken.
“What does that UCC mean and what are the codes that will be universal? That is what I need to see,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that recent developments in Uttarakhand and Assam had provided some reassurance, as tribal customary laws were kept outside the purview of the UCC in those states.
Also Read | Only one case registered in connection with Chibinang violence
“Now we have seen the context of it and how the UCC is coming out in different states, I am slightly more at comfort because if you look at the UCC in Uttarakhand or Assam, they are not touching tribal laws,” Sangma said.
Recalling his earlier reservations, he said the Meghalaya government had initially opposed the idea due to fears that tribal customs and the state’s matrilineal system could be affected.
“In the beginning, when people asked me about the UCC, I said we cannot have it because we are tribals and our tribal laws are different,” he stated.
However, he said the exemption granted to tribal communities in other states has changed the nature of the discussion.
“So suddenly now the UCC is coming from Assam and Uttarakhand and they clearly mention that tribal laws are exempted, so obviously it is a different thing then,” he said.
Also Read | ‘Foreign trips by M’laya ministers and officials planned before restrictions’
Sangma maintained that Meghalaya would still carefully study any such law before taking a final stand.
“When that kind of situation comes in, of course we have to study things carefully and see the details of it,” he said, adding that the government would examine the provisions before making a full comment.
He reiterated that the primary concern remains the protection of Meghalaya’s matrilineal tradition and tribal rights.
“We were worried that our matrilineal system could be changed if a national law comes in,” he said.
“But once we started seeing different laws being passed, we could see, at least on paper, that tribal rights were protected in one way,” he added.
Also Watch
