Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday, said the Meghalaya government is carefully studying the provisions of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to ensure that the state’s tribal identity, traditional laws and matrilineal social structure remain protected. His remarks came amid growing political and social debate in Meghalaya following the passage of the UCC Bill in neighboring Assam. Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said that when discussions on the UCC first began, debates were largely centered around the term itself, with many people uncertain about what the proposed law would include.
“Different concerns naturally emerged because there was no clarity initially on the structure and provisions of the law,” Sangma said. He said that for Meghalaya, a tribal-majority state, the primary concern was whether implementation of the UCC could affect traditional tribal laws and the state’s matrilineal system. Sangma said he had initially opposed the implementation of the UCC in Meghalaya, considering the distinct customs, traditions and social framework followed by tribal communities in the state. However, after studying the UCC laws passed in states such as Uttarakhand and Assam, the government found that tribal laws had been kept outside the purview of the legislation. He stressed that the government would ensure that no national legislation affects Meghalaya’s tribal identity, customary laws or matrilineal social structure.