SHILLONG, JAN 16: The traditional chiefs of Meghalaya on Friday decided to approach the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) on the ruling passed by the Meghalaya high court stating that the ruling has hurt the sentiments of the tribal society in the state.
“We have decided to approach the NCST to seek its opinion on the observation made in the recent judgment by the Meghalaya high court,” Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) chairman John F Kharshiing told reporters on Friday.
A letter has been submitted to the NCST chairman Rameshwar Oraon today.
According to Kharshiing, the tone of the statements in the recent order issued by the Meghalaya high court judge SR Sen has hurt the sentiments of the tribal chiefs in the state.
In his order issued on December 10, Justice Sen while emphasizing the need to put an end to parallel government practice in the state has also directed the state government not to indulge or ask people to obtain No Objection Certificate from headmen but they must function and discharge their duties independently as per rules and laws.
The order also stated that “no rule of law has empowered the headmen to issue NOC or to interfere with administration or indulge in removing people from villages as per their whim and will for which the citizens are the worse sufferers.”
Kharshiing stated that the tone in the order which states “some of the headmen are mere drivers and peons”, has largely affected the sentiments of the Khasi community.
Terming the observation of Sen as ‘uncalled’, Kharshiing said this has hurt the sentiments of the traditional institutions as the appointment of chiefs is based on traditional custom and not on academic qualification.
“A headman is being elected based on his integrity and not his qualification,” Kharshiing added.- By Our Reporter
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