Dimapur, October 21 : The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has dismissed the Centre-proposed Uniform Civil Code as inapplicable and unacceptable for Nagaland.
The Congress issued a press release on Friday informing about the party’s stand on the proposal. The NPCC working president P Ayang Aonok appended the statement.
The executive committee of the NPCC informed to have met on October 21.
‘The committee has examined and deliberated on the questionnaires put forward by Justice BS Chauhan, chairman of the Law Commission of India to all concerned to engage with them on the comprehensive exercise of the revision and reform of family laws, as the Article 44 of the Indian Constitution provides that ‘the state shall endeavour to provide for its citizen a uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India,’ the press release stated.
The objective behind the endeavour was to address discrimination against vulnerable groups, and to harmonise various cultural practises, the note read.
The committee’s statement read: “Further, the commission invites suggestions on all possible models and templates of a common Civil Code. The meeting resolved that Nagaland is part of the Union of India with special provision under Art. 371A of India Constitution ‘Notwithstanding anything in the Constitution, no Act of Parliament in respect of religious or social practices of the Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decision according to Naga customary law and procedures, and ownership and transfer of land and its resources shall apply to the state of Nagaland unless Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides.’”
Any violation in the provision by the government of India in respect of Nagaland would mean breach of agreement that the centre and Nagaland arrived at under the Article 371A, the NPCC said.
“The house therefore, unanimously resolved to express that uniform Civil Code is not applicable and acceptable in Nagaland,” the NPCC added.
