Nagaland Baptist Church Council, tribes council say no to Uniform Civil Code

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) have objected to the proposed implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country.

The NBCC contended that the move to implement the code by the central government was to manipulate the social, culture and religious rights of the minority.

“It is nothing but to establish supremacy over the tribals and the religious minority for their own benefit. Codifying the social-cultural and the religious practices by way of negating the deep rooted values and norms of the people, especially that of the tribals and the religious minority will amount to violation of the fundamental rights of the marginalised minority in the country,” read the press release from NBCC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho.

It said once the UCC gets through, the entire Article in the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion and constitutional freedom to practice the religion of one’s choice will be snapped.

While maintaining that religion and faith are personal and the practices cannot be codified, it said the law cannot prescribe on religious matter in a secular nation. “Rather, preserving diversity and multiculturalism has to take the centre stage quarantining confidence in the minds and lives of her citizens.”

“In a world when ‘Unity in Diversity’ is decaying, it must be noted with clarity that of late, the minority communities in the country have been cornered and many times left ignored and undefended,” it said, adding that the word “uniformity” is a threat as it conveys dominance and supremacy of the majority.

It went on to state that religion, faith and cultural practices, which are deeply rooted in personal convictions, cannot be defined by an act of law on the pretext of uniformity.

“The law can only define the role of the citizens and how one must conduct himself/herself in the larger interest of the community as a good citizen but beyond that it cannot define my faith, my cultural practices and my social connections to flow with the majority,” the NBCC added.

In a representation to Member Secretary, Law Commission of India, the NTC reiterated its stand on the proposed UCC, stating that Nagaland is a tribal state where the rights and privileges of the people including religious and social practices, customary law and procedures, administration of social justice, and ownership and transfer of land and its resources are fully protected under Article 371 A, which was inserted into the Constitution of India by virtue of the 16-Point Agreement.

Pointing out that the Naga way of life is relatively different from the people of mainland, the NTC said the Naga people will be subjected to alien culture and social practices, eventually leading to extinction of social life, if the UCC is enforced.

Enforcement of the law will also interfere in the religious affairs and beliefs of the minority communities, which will be a threat to peace and harmony in Nagaland, it added.

The NTC went on to state that the campaign to support the implementation and enforcement of the UCC by the 22nd Law Commission of India should be put on hold as it “would definitely destroy the beauty of diversity of culture and religious practices across India”.

“The personal laws governing different communities have been built over centuries and are deeply rooted in their cultural and religious belief and practices and hence forceful application of laws alien to the concern communities would not be advisable for a healthy growth of society,” it stated.

It went on to urge the Law Commission to consider the inherent rights of the people of Nagaland and to recommend the union government to exclude the state from the purview of UCC.