Dimapur, April 25 (MExN): The Nagaland Bar Association (NBA) has written a representation to the Law Commission of India objecting to the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) while arguing that the Indian sub-continent is not a homogenous society and that the Constitution of India does not envisage a sectarian form of government.
The NBA in its representation stated it was airing its views and objections on UCC as sought for by the Law Commission.
The association reminded the Law Commission of the July 1960 agreement between the Government of India and leaders of the Naga People's Convention and asserted that the agreement is a “revered document” for the Nagas.
“The provisions of the Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, emanating there-from is a sacred Constitutional provision for the people of Nagaland,” the bar association maintained.
“In the case of the State of Nagaland, Article 371A incorporated by the Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, which among others, safeguards the social customs and practices of the Nagas is an inalienable and Constitutional right,” it added.
Insisting that the people in the State of Nagaland are content because of the existing “classless and democratic society,” the association argued that any change to these deeply rooted social customs and practices “would destroy these inherent and Constitutional rights of the Nagas.”
As such, the Nagaland Bar Association representing the legal fraternity in the state fervently appealed to the Law Commission of India to protect the Naga social customs and practices conferred under Article 371A and recommend the same to the Government of India.
