SHILLONG, July 17: BJP legislator Sanbor Shullai has written to the Law Commission of India demanding the exemption of the Sixth Schedule areas of Meghalaya from the purview of the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
In a letter addressed to Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, chairman of the Law Commission, Shullai said: “As an elected BJP MLA from Meghalaya, I have always been vocal about issues concerning the citizens of the state.
“This time, the UCC is a concern. Any law implemented by the country should safeguard the interests of the minorities besides protecting the rich and traditional heritage of the tribal communities of the Northeastern states of the country.
“The unique and distinct characteristics of the Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos are the embodiment of self-governance established under the constitution, the proposed implementation of the uniform civil code may perhaps dilute the old age valuable custom, beliefs, and traditions practiced since time immemorial, which is the unique identity that defines the minority tribal people of the state of Meghalaya and absolutely distinct from the rest of the country,” he wrote.
Among the minority tribes of the region, the Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos of Meghalaya have a uniqueness of monitoring and managing their own customary and traditional laws protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the BJP legislator pointed out.
“The Law Commission in its circular has sought the views from various stakeholders regarding the implementation of uniform civil code and has received an overwhelming response over the same. Since the views of the public shall be taken into consideration and that the majority of the tribal population in Meghalaya fear the infringement of mainstream law into the very existing traditional and customary laws, which has been a part of the existing norms for ages,” he wrote.
Shullai added that if the UCC is implemented in Meghalaya, it risks interference with the unique beauty of the matrilineal norms of society.
The central government was kind enough to exempt the tribal areas of the Northeast from the purview of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, he said.
The same principle should thus be applied to uphold the traditional matrilineal customary law of the tribal communities of Meghalaya, he argued.
“Therefore, to retain the proud district character, tradition, and rich culture protected by the constitution of India and the country, it is an earnest appeal that the scheduled areas of Meghalaya be kept out of the UCC, Shullai said.
While the Meghalaya BJP’s official stand on the UCC remains unclear, the party’s vice-president, Bernard N. Marak had recently claimed that the tribal areas would not be affected by the proposed uniform code.
He also claimed that the BJP wants to uplift the long-neglected Northeast and does not intend to intrude into the tribal areas or dilute their beautiful culture, tradition, and practices.
