Tura, July 7: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) held a crucial meeting on Friday with various stakeholders, including pressure groups, senior citizens, and the Bar Association, to deliberate on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The Chief Executive Member (CEM) Albinush R Marak, Deputy CEM Nikman Ch Marak, along with other Executive Members (EMs), attended the meeting.
The primary resolution that emerged from the meeting was a strong opposition to the UCC bill. The CEM, in an interview with Hub News, emphasized the potential impact of the bill on the region’s culture and beliefs if it were to be implemented. While admitting that they had not yet seen the draft of the bill, the CEM asserted that they were familiar with the concept of the UCC. He highlighted the importance of customary law in the tribal beliefs and practices of the region, which are protected under the Sixth Schedule.
Adding to his statement, Deputy CEM Nikam Ch Marak said, “Prevention is better than cure. Even without seeing the draft, we have a fair idea of what it means.”
The organisations that attended the meeting included: Mother’s Union, GSU, FKJGP, ADE, AYC, GGU, TGCSU, PGSU, Tura Bar Association, AHAM, NIKSAMSO, ACHIK, GHSMC, AIGU, Council of Nokma, A•chik Heritage Pursuit, AYWO, GSMC.
When asked about the possibility of excluding Sixth Schedule areas from the purview of the UCC, the Deputy CEM said if such an exclusion were to occur, further discussions would be necessary. However, he emphasized the need to review the bill before making any decisions.
Regarding the steps that would be taken if the UCC bill was passed, Nikam Ch Marak expressed concerns about its contradiction to customary laws, beliefs, and practices. He confirmed that the GHADC would vehemently oppose the bill and, if required, take legal action to protect the rights of the indigenous communities.
Addressing the question of GHADC’s opposition to the UCC while the implementation of the Garo Customary Laws (GCL) remains pending, Nikam Ch Marak clarified that the GCL had already been formulated in 2005. It has also been passed by the state Assembly, and the GHADC intends to table it during the upcoming winter session.
Furthermore, the CEM highlighted that the National People’s Party (NPP) staunchly opposes the UCC. To demonstrate their dissatisfaction, the NPP plans to organize a protest at the Baghmara party office on July 11.
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 held a crucial meeting on Friday with various stakeholders, including pressure groups, senior citizens, and the Bar Association, to deliberate on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The Chief Executive Member (CEM) Albinush R Marak, Deputy CEM Nikman Ch Marak, along with other Executive Members (EMs), attended the meeting.){kind=link}