SHILLONG, FEB 4: The traditional chiefs on Wednesday demanded KHADC must separately propose the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Village Administration) Bill, 2014 for the fifty-four Himas under its jurisdiction and wanted the council’s intervention for the inclusion of indigenous nomenclature of traditional and customary institution of Dorbars in the Sixth Schedule in accordance with the Instrument of Accession (IOA) signed in August 17, 1948.
Hundreds of traditional chiefs under the banner of the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) and Federation of Khasi States (FKS) met the KHADC chief executive member Adelbert Nongrum to discuss on the issues on Wednesday.
“We urged that the village administration bill be proposed separately for each Hima/Elaka so that the names of the villages/village is listed and notified under each Hima/Elaka in the proposed Bill,” GCCM chairman and FKS spokesperson John F Kharshiing told reporters after the meeting.
Kharshiing informed that traditional law practices in the 54 Himas are different from one another.
The demand also came in the wake of the recent ruling of the Meghalaya High Court that curtailed the powers of the traditional heads in the state.
The chiefs also urged KHADC to assist the Khasi states, Sirdars, Wahadadar, Lyngdoh, Dolloi, and Nokmas in finalizing the legislation and codification of traditional laws in a time bound manner, such that the indigenous nomenclature of the three tire traditional and customary institution of Dorbar Kur, Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid, and Dorbar Hima (Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Wahadadar, Dolloi and Nokmas) instead of the word ‘chiefs’ must be mentioned in the Sixth Schedule in accordance with the IOA and AA – 17 August 1948, Kharshiing said.
“We also proposed the District Council to initiate urgent discussions with the state government to discuss the response of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the memorandums from the FKS vis-à-vis the proposed Sixth Scheduled Amendment to correct the constitutional anomaly,” Kharshiing said.
The traditional chiefs also urged the KHADC to constitute a committee on the matter.
According to Kharshiing, in 2013, the earlier executive committee of the KHADC had constituted a sub-committee to examine on the propose amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
“We request constitution of a similar KHADC All Party Committee with representatives from the FKS, chaired by the CEM to facilitate discussions and suggestions that is of common interest between the KHADC and the Federation of Khasi States,” Kharshiing informed.
Kharshiing said they wanted that the IOA to be included in the Constitution of India.
Meanwhile, the chiefs also urged the CEM of KHADC to convene a joint meeting of all the members of the District Council with the Federation of Khasi states so as to have clarity and to discuss the very important constitution amendments proposed by the KHADC to the state government.
“We have also asked the KHADC to provide a copy of the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule that it has submitted to the state government,” Kharshiing said.
Kharshiing further informed that they also urged KHADC and the state government to pass resolutions urging the Government of India to fulfill the solemn national commitments made on the attainment of Indian Independence.
Constitution of a regional council is also one among the demands put forth by the chiefs during their meeting with the KHADC chief.
Earlier, hundreds of chiefs gathered in-front of the KHADC premises.
Addressing the gathering, KHADC chief executive member Adelbert Nongrum said that the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule is not all about increasing the seats in the autonomous district councils but it is also about strengthening and empowering of the traditional dorbar shnongs.
Nongrum, however, maintained that the district council has made and prepared the village administration Bill under the purview of the Sixth Schedule. Earlier the state government had returned back the Bill stating that it lacks ingredient of democratic aspects.
“We will be compelled to undertake agitation if the state government continue in delaying the passing of the bill,” Nongrum said while asserting that court should punished erring Rangbah Shnong but not the whole indigenous community just because of the mistake committed by the few.
Nongrum assured that the demands put forth by the traditional chiefs will be taken up in the Executive Committee which will meet soon.- By Our Reporter
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