SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday said the state government would take a considered stand on the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) only after examining its detailed provisions, while indicating that recent models adopted by states such as Uttarakhand and Assam had offered some reassurance on the protection of tribal laws.
Addressing reporters, Sangma said he has consistently maintained that it would be premature to comment on the UCC without first studying its actual framework.
“I cannot comment on a UCC if I don’t see the format of the UCC,” he said, adding that the term itself was too broad and open to multiple interpretations.
The Chief Minister explained that his earlier reservations about the UCC were linked to concerns over the preservation of Meghalaya’s tribal customs and traditional systems.
“In the beginning, when people asked me about the UCC, I said we cannot have it because we are tribals and our tribal laws are different,” he said.
However, Sangma said his apprehensions had eased to some extent after observing that states implementing the UCC had kept tribal laws outside its scope.
“Now that we have seen how the UCC is coming out in different states, I am slightly more at comfort because in Uttarakhand and Assam they are not touching tribal laws,” he stated.
He pointed out that both states had specifically exempted tribal communities from the purview of the law, which, according to him, changed the nature of the debate.
Despite this, the Chief Minister stressed that Meghalaya would closely study any future proposal before arriving at a final opinion.
“We have to study things carefully and see the details of it,” he said, adding that the government would thoroughly examine any draft or framework placed before it.
Sangma further said the state’s biggest concern was safeguarding Meghalaya’s matrilineal system and ensuring that tribal practices remain protected.
“We were worried that our matrilineal system could be affected and that a national law might completely change the way tribals in our state follow their traditions,” he said.
He added that while recent examples suggest tribal rights may continue to remain protected, the government would wait to see the complete picture before making any definitive comment on the issue.
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