Nagaland govt moves resolution denouncing Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, UCC

Nagaland government will move a resolution in the state assembly denouncing the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act and the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

The Assembly session is scheduled from September 11 to 14.The state government has earlier expressed its reservation in both the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act and the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

Government spokesperson and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Power KG Kenye said the government held consultative meetings with apex tribal bodies and civil society organisations of the state and decided to move the resolution.


Kenye said several Naga civil societies and intellectuals expressed concern that the Acts might infringe into the special rights guaranteed under Article 371A of the Constitution.

Article 371A grants special protection to the Nagas in Nagaland on religious and social practices and also on ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

During the meeting, the tribal bodies and civil societies urged the state government not to enforce the two Acts in the state, he said.

BJP is a partner in the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)led government in Nagaland.

In July this year the Nagaland government had requested the Law Commission to exempt the state from the purview of Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

Kenye earlier said that the state government has officially made the submission to the 22nd Law Commission during the recent visit of a ministerial team led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to Delhi.

Kenye said that the team met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The home minister has assured that the Centre is considering exempting Christians and some tribal states from the purview of UCC.

“Our people have not accepted the proposed imposition of UCC and are against even with the idea of such enactment of it and there have been resentments from all quarters with tribal bodies and civil society organisations openly declaring not to accept the imposition of UCC,” he said.