The Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has said that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will create chaos and need to be rejected in toto.
A submission was made by the HYC to the Law Commission asking it to recommend to the Government of India not to implement UCC in Meghalaya as it will dilute and replace the prevailing custom and usages, provisions under the Sixth Scheduled and the powers of the Autonomous District Councils and violate the federal structures of India and interferes into the religious affairs.
UCC which essentially refers to a common set of laws that are applicable to all the citizens of India and deals with marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption among other personal matters, has triggered a political slugfest in the country.
The Law Commission had called in for views from all stakeholders, including people and recognised religious organisations, on the politically sensitive issue.
Pointing out that the personal laws like marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, maintenance, guardianship, co-parenting, etc are also the powers of the state government, the HYC said Meghalaya has already enacted various laws on marriage, inheritance, etc and these has been implemented and accepted by the people of the State. “If the Parliament of India brings the UCC, it will violate the federal structure as envisaged in the Constitution which is uncalled for,” it added.
While India is a Nation with multi religion and the Constitution guarantees the protection of each and every religion and its unique norms the HYC said, Meghalaya is a State where majority are Christian and there are also people who are practicing the traditional faiths along with other religions like Hindu, Muslims, etc. “We are of the opinion that UCC will dilute the religious norms on matters like marriage, divorce, etc and we feel that it is the constitutional duty of any government to respect each and every religion by allowing these religions to follow their own unique norms and not by replacing these norms,” the HYC said.
Furthermore, the organisation said that since the 21st Law Commission of India in its report in 2018 recommended that UCC is neither necessary nor desirable, the centre should not implement it.
The HYC suggested that the Commission should recommend the Government of India to help the Autonomous District Councils in Meghalaya by financially assisting them and other aid and provide guidance to codify and legislate the different personal laws.
