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A seminar on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), to have been held at Kashmir University Auditorium on March 26, was cancelled on Saturday, with the organisers saying it was done because of the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections, even as National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah expressed reservations about the event, saying it was organised by the Indian Army.

 

In a tweet on X, formerly Twitter, Abdullah said the participation of the Army in a seminar on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Kashmir was a matter of concern as it was a “divisive” topic for the sensitive area.

 

A defence spokesman later said it was a “The Legal Awareness Seminar scheduled for March 26 by ‘Kashmir Jurist’ at Kashmir University.” 

 

“The seminar that was supposed to take place on 26 of this month was cancelled owing to the adoption of the Model Code of Conduct,” the spokesperson confirmed.

 

In his tweets, Abdullah also said, "Is it acceptable for the Indian Army to become engaged in the controversial subject of the uniform civil code, particularly in a sensitive territory such as Kashmir?”

 

The lecture was titled Navigating Legal Frontiers: Understanding Indian Penal Code 2023 and the Quest for Uniform Civil Code. 

Invites to the event were purportedly sent by the Srinagar-based PRO Defence on behalf of Major General PBS Lamba, General Officer Commanding HQ 31 Sub Area.

 

The UCC proposal aims to replace personal laws based on religions, customs, and traditions with one common law for everyone irrespective of religion, cast, creed, sexual orientation, and gender.