Mokokchung, 5 July (MTNews): In a strongly-worded statement, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has voiced its opposition to the proposed implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by the Government of India, stating that it has no place in the Naga homeland. The federation argued that the UCC would impede upon their constitutional freedom to practice their dominant Christian faith, as well as endanger the indigenous religion followed by a minority section of the Naga society. They contended that the imposition of the UCC violates Article 25 of the Indian constitution, which guarantees religious groups the right to manage their own affairs, and Article 29, which protects the preservation of distinct cultures.
The NSF stated that in Naga areas, existing customary laws hold precedence over federal laws regarding personal matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, and land ownership. They firmly asserted that there is no room for the implementation of the UCC within this context. They argued that constitutional safeguards protecting Naga customs and religious practices cannot be disregarded under the pretext of enforcing a uniform law. The federation emphasized that the Naga people will vehemently oppose any legislation that undermines their personal laws and attempts to impose a foreign law upon their customs, traditions, religious practices, and way of life. “In this regard, the Naga people cannot allow any legislation that stands to over-rule our personal laws and that such a law cannot be made legally enforceable across our homeland,” NSF added.
Furthermore, the NSF questioned the timing and intention of the central government in imposing a Uniform Civil Code, while codified civil and criminal laws such as the CrPC and IPC do not follow the principle of “one nation, one law.” They point out that the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 has been amended by the governments of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, and different states have different legal ages for drinking alcohol, highlighting the lack of uniformity in existing laws. The federation suggested that the UCC appear to be a political maneuver by the government to appease the Hindu majority in the run-up to the general elections, while disregarding the social and religious practices, customary laws, and cultures of religious minorities, including the Nagas.
The NSF also drew attention to a previous report by the law commission in 2018, which stated that the UCC “is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage” and recommended studying and amending discriminatory practices and prejudices within specific religions and their personal laws instead.
In a plea to preserve India’s celebrated image of unity amidst diversity, the federation appealed to all concerned parties not to undermine this notion.
“This stand of the Federation is for the consumption of the general public. The Federation will be officially writing to the Law Commission within the given timeframe to ventilate our thoughts on the same,” NSF also informed.
This news report is based on the press release issued by the Naga Students’ Federation and their opposition to the proposed Uniform Civil Code in the Naga homeland.