Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said his government is carefully reviewing the Uniform Civil Code to ensure the state’s tribal identity, traditional laws, and unique matrilineal social structure stay protected. His comments follow the recent passage of a UCC bill in neighboring Assam, which sparked widespread debate across the region.
Sangma acknowledged that initial discussions regarding the UCC caused uncertainty because the specifics of the proposed law were unclear. As a state with a tribal majority, Meghalaya’s primary concern has always been whether the code might infringe upon the local customs that define its social framework. The Chief Minister noted that he initially opposed the implementation of the UCC for this very reason.
However, after examining the legislation passed in states like Uttarakhand and Assam, the government observed that tribal laws were excluded from the scope of the code. Sangma described this as an assurance that tribal rights remain protected on paper. Despite this finding, the state government is continuing a detailed examination of the law and has not reached a final decision.
The Chief Minister emphasized that safeguarding tribal interests remains his administration's top priority. He stated that the government will ensure no national legislation compromises the customary laws or the matrilineal system of Meghalaya.
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