Staff Reporter
Shillong:
The three autonomous district councils (ADCs) of the state have decided to oppose implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the Sixth Schedule areas
The three ADCs – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo – held a joint meeting on Monday at the conference hall of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), here.
They decided to jointly pass a resolution opposing the UCC.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Titosstarwell Chyne said that the UCC will have a direct impact on the powers and functions of the ADCs, especially on the customs, traditional practices and the community as a whole.
He said, “We have unanimously decided to pass a resolution that implementation of the UCC in the Sixth Schedule area will be totally opposed. We will pass a resolution in our respective councils soon.”
NO VILLAGE COUNCIL
The ADCs also reiterated their strong opposition against the inclusion of ‘unrepresented tribe’ and ‘village council’ in the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Indian Constitution.
Chyne said that the matter was discussed after the Centre yet again sought their views.
He said that the ADCs have agreed to have a proposed village development council instead of village council while remaining opposed to unrepresented tribes.
He said that the amendment to the Sixth Schedule be passed soon but there are issues such as ‘unrepresented tribe’ and ‘village council’ which he said needs to be deliberated.
“We have passed the Village Development Council Bill and we would also like to see these two ADCs also pass this bill so that implementation of village council will not be applicable as we will have our own traditional institutions,” Chyne said said adding that according to the proposed amendment, village council will dilute the powers and functions of the traditional institutions.
Asked as to when they will convene a session on the matter, he said, “There are two issues with the two Councils, because to pass the village development council bill, I think they need to call for a special session. Hopefully, by next month, we would like to speed up this matter.”
The ADCs have also decided to oppose the Svamitva scheme launched by the central government asserting that the land tenure system in the state of Meghalaya is different from other parts of the country.
Chyne said, “We have our traditional practices, our own land-holding system in the state, hence the implementation of Svamitva scheme in the state is unacceptable.”
Regarding the issue of Scheduled Tribe Certificate and Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC), he urged the state government that the function to issue these certificates be handed over to the district council.