The Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) today passed a resolution to oppose the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
JHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Thombor Shiwat brought the resolution during the first day of the Summer Session of the council opposing the move of the Centre to implement UCC.
Shiwat said the UCC will unsettle all age-old, longstanding and consistently followed customs, usages, practices and traditions prevailing and practiced till date. He said, this will be particularly on marriage, inheritance and succession, land tenure systems and most importantly the fundamental rights enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution with regards to religious freedom.
The JHADC said the centre should not go ahead with implementing the UCC within its jurisdiction so that “the rights and interests of the people of Jaiñtia Hills are not prejudice while at the same time the customary practices prevailing are preserved as safeguarded by Article 13 and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.”
It may be recalled that the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) had on June 24 passed a resolution to oppose the UCC.
KHADC Chief Executive Member Pyniaid Sing Syiem who brought the resolution during the first day of the council’s budget session said the UCC will dilute the long-standing customs and practices of the indigenous tribes of the state. Referring to Article 244 (2) and Article 275 (1) of the Indian Constitution.
Tribal groups in the North East are worried that a Uniform Civil Code would encroach upon their longstanding customs and practices, which are safeguarded by the Constitution.
The Narendra Modi government at the Centre is considering the introduction of a bill on implementing the UCC during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.
