NTC urges Law Commission of India to exclude Nagaland from UCC implementation

Mokokchung, 25 June (MTNews): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has made an appeal to the Law Commission of India to stop campaigning for the implementation and enforcement of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India while stating that “this kind of exercise would destroy the beauty of diversity of culture and religious practices across India.”

NTC President Toniho Yepthomi and General Secretary Nribemo Ngullie in a representation to the Law Commission emphasized that the personal laws governing different communities have been built over centuries and are deeply rooted in their cultural and religious belief and practices. Hence, it stated that forceful application of laws alien to the concerned communities would not be advisable for a healthy growth of society. Majority is not enough if the genuine opinions of minorities are killed, NTC said.

The NTC also sought to remind that Nagaland was granted statehood as the 16th States of the Indian Union on 1 December 1963 out of a political agreement popularly known as the 16-Point Agreement of 1960. By this deed of agreement, special provision with respect to the state of Nagaland was accorded vide Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India, it said.

The NTC therefore urged upon the 22nd Law Commission of India to consider the inherent rights of the people of Nagaland and exclude Nagaland state from the purview of UCC with recommendation to the Union Government so that the hard earned inalienable provisions of Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India is safeguarded and remain undisturbed.