South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai has expressed his concerns if the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is implemented in Meghalaya.
The Meghalaya Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been at pains to explain to the state’s citizens that the UCC is of no danger.
Shullai, one of only two BJP legislators in the Meghalaya Assembly, however is concerned by it.
“The uniform civil code is a concern. As any law implemented by the country should safeguard the interests of the minorities besides protecting the rich and traditional heritage of the tribal communities of the North Eastern states of the country,” Shullai said in a letter to the Law Commission.
“The unique and distinct characteristics of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills region of Meghalaya is the embodiment of self-governance established under the constitution. The proposed implementation of the uniform civil code may perhaps dilute the old age valuable customs, beliefs and traditions practised since time immemorial, which is the unique identity that defines the minority tribal people of the state of Meghalaya and absolutely distinct from the rest of the country.”
The Sixth Schedule protects the right of the three tribes to manage their own customs and the tribals fear that the UCC as an “infringement of mainstream law” into the customs and traditions.
“The UCC if implemented in Meghalaya risks interference with the unique beauty of matrilineal norms of the society in Meghalaya. The central government has been kind enough during the implementation of CAA wherein tribal areas of the North Eastern states have been exempted. Thus, the same principle should be applied to uphold the traditional matrilineal customary law of the tribal communities of Meghalaya,” Shullai said.
