Shillong, Sep 16: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO) has fired a strong salvo against the proposed Uniform Civil Code rollout in NDA-ruled states, demanding Meghalaya be kept out.
In representations to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, CoMSO questioned under what constitutional mechanism the Centre proposes to apply UCC to Meghalaya’s autonomous districts.
“How can a UCC be applied to Meghalaya without addressing the constitutional powers and protections expressly granted to its Autonomous District Councils under the Sixth Schedule?” the representation asked.
CoMSO, led by Chairman Roy Kupar Synrem and General Secretary Balkarin Ch. Marak, warned a blanket UCC would hit inheritance, marriage, divorce and social customs governed by the three ADCs, and undermine Meghalaya’s matrilineal system.
“Political uniformity cannot override constitutional protection. Political alliances cannot override the Sixth Schedule,” it states, adding, “uniformity and equality are not synonymous.”
The organisation sought 10-point action, including immediate clarification on Meghalaya’s inclusion, exclusion from automatic implementation, examination of Paragraph 12A, and consultation with ADCs, Dorbar Shnong and traditional institutions.
It also urged the CM to place Meghalaya’s position before the Union Government and initiate structured consultation to safeguard “customary laws, traditional institutions and matrilineal social structure.”
