Nagaland Assembly Unanimously bill Exemption Uniform Civil Code

New Delhi: The Nagaland assembly unanimously approved a motion against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), requesting that the state be exempted if such a Code is implemented. The state’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-led administration includes the Bharatiya Janata Party as a partner.

According to the resolution, a UCC’s stated purpose is “to have a single law on personal matters such as marriage and divorce, custody and guardianship, adoption and maintenance, succession and inheritance.” According to The Indian Express, this would put Naga traditional laws, social norms, and religious practices “in danger of encroachment in the event of imposition of UCC.”

The resolution had been proposed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio.The state administration had already voiced its thoughts to the 22nd Law Commission, which had invited ideas regarding the UCC in June of this year, according to the resolution.

The resolution emphasized Article 371(A) of the Constitution, which reads in part, “No Act of Parliament shall apply to the State of Nagaland in respect of religious or social practices of the Nagas; Naga customary law and procedure; administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law; ownership and transfer of land and its resources, unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides.”Resolutions opposing the UCC had previously been adopted in Mizoram and Kerala as well.