Land encroachment opposed

SHILLONG, JAN 27: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Wednesday opposed the alleged land encroachment by the state government under Saitsohpen Sirdarship.

According to the council, the state government has allegedly claimed that the land in Saitsohpen Sirdarship is a government land as this particular land falls under the British Territory before the country attained its independence.

“We strongly opposed the move of the General Administrative Department (GAD) of the state government to encroach into the land belonging to the Saitsohpen Sirdarship,” KHADC CEM PN Syiem told reporters after a meeting of the ruling PDF on Wednesday.

He said, “We have also decided to soon write to the state government requesting it to ensure that such move is immediately put to a stop.” According to him, this is because that Saitsohpen Sirdarship has its own Sirdar which his recognition is equal to the other sirdarship in the region.

“We have many Sidarships within the jurisdiction of the KHADC which were also inherit from the British time,” he said while making it clear not all lands of the British can be inherited by the state government.

He further pointed out that as per Para 20 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, the state government has no right to claim right over the lands falling under Sixth Schedule and those falling under the jurisdiction of the district council but only those that falls under Cantonment, European Ward and Municipal.-By Our Reporter