DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 21 (MExN): The executive committee of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today resolved that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) “is not applicable and acceptable in Nagaland.” A press note from the NPCC Working President, P Ayang Aonok informed that this was resolved in a meeting on Friday to examine and deliberate on the questionnaires put forward by Dr. Justice B.S Chauhan, Chairman Law Commission of India to all concerned to engage with them on the comprehensive exercise of the revision and reform of family laws, as Article 44 of the Indian Constitution provides that ‘the state shall endeavour to provide for its citizen a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India’.
The NPCC meeting resolved that Nagaland is “part of the Union of India with special provision under Article 371A of India Constitution, which quotes that “notwithstanding anything in the Constitution, - No Act of Parliament in respect of (i) Religious or social practices of the Nagas; (ii) Naga customary law and procedure; (iii) administration of civil and criminal justice involving decision according to Naga customary law and procedures; and (iv) ownership and transfer of land and its resources shall apply to the State of Nagaland unless Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides. In light of this, the NPCC stated that any violation in the provision by Government of India in respect of Nagaland would mean breach of agreement that the GoI and Nagaland has arrived at under Article 371A.
