SHILLONG, JAN 23: The traditional heads from across the Khasi hills on Friday unanimously decided to file an appeal before division bench of the Meghalaya High Court to seek relief on the recent order issued by its single bench that has directed the headmen to stop issuing No Objection Certificate.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the Syiem of Hima Khyrim Dr Balajied Sing Syiem at Smit on the recent observations made by the High Court.
The meeting was attended by hundreds of Rangbah Shnong (Village Chiefs) from the Dorbar Shnong and Provincial Chiefs from the Dorbar Raid, including village elders, myntri, lyngdoh, Syiem Raid and others representing villages right from the border of Assam to those near the border of Bangladesh.
During the five hour long meeting, the village chiefs expressed their reservation with the order of the single bench of the High Court.
“With no other option, we resolved to file an appeal before the Division Bench of the High Court to seek relief pending necessary legislation by the Government and the District Councils for the respective Himas,” Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) chairman John F Kharshiing said after the meeting.
He also informed the meeting also resolved to urge the state government and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to urgently legislate, codify the customary Rules, Laws, Regulations as per the traditions, customary and social practices under Hima Khyrim.
“We also urged the KHADC and the state government to suitably amend the anomalies in the proposed Village Administration Bill 2014, so that it is legislated as per the customary traditions under Hima Khyrim Syiemship,” he said.
The headmen, village chiefs of Hima Khyrim reiterated their demand and continued to support the Dorbar Ri- Peoples Parliament convened by the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya for calling on the state and the central government for fulfillment incorporation of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17 august 1948 through a special article under 370 A of the Constitution of India so as to provide special protection for the Khasi States from the numerous Central Laws legislated since 1950 which have caused conflict to the indigenous Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes.
Speaking in the meeting, Kharshiing stated that the indigenous tribal governing institutions of self government of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people are facing immense difficulty and conflict especially due to the unique land ownership system of the Khasi and primarily due to the non implementation of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement, accepted by the central government of India on 17 august 1948, and called for the unity of all the traditional chiefs to achieve this objective.
Kharshiing informed that till date the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya has been pursuing with the Government of India to address the IOA & AA and the Dorbar Ri – Peoples Parliament- that was convened four times is a testimony to the aspirations of the indigenous people of Meghalaya.
Kharshiing also informed that pending resolution of the IOA & AA the various governments of Meghalaya and the District Councils has had to move the Government of India to exempt Central Laws under para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Scheduled under the Constitution of India, unlike the state of Kashmir which has special provisions under Article 370.
Kharshiing stated that the central government should conduct a referendum to understand the wishes of the people. He also called on all the chiefs to attend the special Dorbar on 30th January 2015 to be held at Demthring, Shillong, at 11.30 am to discuss the follow-up with the state government on the recent letter from the MHA.- By Our Reporter
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