UCC neither necessary nor desirable in Sikkim: JAC

Every law is being safeguarded and we don't want to touch upon such laws to safeguard the sanctity of constitutional rights of people of Sikkim, said Passang Sherpa

By Prakash Adhikari

The Joint Action Council passed a resolution opposing the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Sikkim, terming it “neither necessary nor desirable in the context of Sikkim on Sunday.

A symposium organized by JAC was attended by various political parties, organizations, and individuals who deliberated at length about UCC.

JAC asserted, “Resolution passed in the light of Article 371F and other prevailing customary laws of various communities of Sikkim, UCC is neither necessary nor desirable in the context of Sikkim. We have special protection under Indian Constitution’s Article 371F which safeguards all the laws imposed before 16 May 1975, whatever the laws may it be criminal, civil, or customary laws. Every law is being safeguarded and we don’t want to touch upon such laws nor disturb such laws to safeguard the sanctity of constitutional rights of people of Sikkim”, said JAC Vice President Passang Sherpa.

On the silence maintained by the State Government concerning the UCC implementation in Sikkim, Sherpa slammed the state government and said, “State government is mute, deaf and dumb, this is not the first issue. They were deaf and dumb during the Citizenship Amendment Act or when One Nation One Ration Card or when the parliament passed the finance bill earlier this year and today on UCC also, unfortunately they are mute about this concern. There are protests going on in several states against the UCC, rather than taking the route of protest we brought people together to deliberate through symposium”.

On being asked whether the Law Commission of India would accept the resolution in the absence of State government in passing the resolution, Sherpa stated, “Currently the Law Commission of India has invited suggestions from the general public, we will be submitting the resolution passed today to the Law Commission of India. Even an individual’s viewpoint is being accepted by the Law Commission. Today we had 50 percent of political parties in attendance, major organizations who are vocal on Sikkimese rights, and Joint Action Council serving as umbrella organization for all Sikkimese people passed the resolution. There is lack of awareness among Sikkimese people, political parties are unaware about such crucial issue, hence we are just trying to be the voice of the common people and raising our concern at the appropriate forum”.

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