SHILLONG: The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) has appealed to the KHADC on the urgent need to codify and recognize the 3367 Khasi-Pnar Clan Dorbar in accordance with the resolution passed by the Council on October 2, 2013.
In a letter to KHADC CEM Pynshngaiñlang N Syiem here on Thursday, GCCM chairman John Kharshiing said that the Council had unanimously resolved to urge the KHADC on the need to bring a legislation – The Khasi-Pnar Clan Dorbar (Dorbar Kur or Seng Kur) Bill, 2013 in the interest of regulating the 3367 Khasi-Pnar Clans (as per 1981 Census published by Bah Spiton Kharakor).
“The Clan Dorbar is one of the most important organs in the hierarchy of Khasi-Pnar political democracy. The concept of Dorbar Hima, Dorbar Raid Dorbar Kur and Dorbar Shnong, as per oral history, was initiated by the various Clan Dorbar(s) who united their territory together to form a separate identity to protect themselves and their land from aggression, and this practice has been passed down to us by our ancestors and we hold this unique bond till today,” Kharshiing said.
He pointed out that after many generations, at present a number of disputes have arisen relating to nomination by Clan Dorbar(s) which are entitled to hold the office of Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Myntri, Wahadadar, Basan, Syiem Raid, Lyngdoh Raid, Dolloi, Pator, etc., in the 54 Hima and Elaka in Khasi Hills and 18 Dolloi and 1 Sirdarship in Jaintia Hills.
“We find that some disputes have even reached the door steps of the Supreme Court and high courts. This shows that the Clan Dorbar is very vibrant but at the same time need urgent recognition of their respective Constitutions so as to have the force of law as per Para 11 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India,” the GCCM chairman said.
While stating that the 21 KHADC appointment and succession, administration acts, rules and regulations passed by the KHADC has mentioned and defined by naming the various ‘offices ‘ within a Hima/ Elaka, Kharshiing, however, observed that there is urgent need to further codify and define the specific role, function and responsibilities of the Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Myntri, Wahadadar, Basan, Syiem Raid, Lyngdoh Raid, Dolloi, Pator, etc., since without these codification the various acts, rules and regulation would become ineffective.
According to him, the officials should annually present a ‘report’ to their respective Clan Dorbar.
“The need for such codification is becoming more apparent in view of the need for notifying and identification of the competent authority under the respective Clan Dorbar or Seng Kur authorized to issue Identity cards, No-Objection Certificates for the purpose of obtaining the Schedule Tribe Certificates,” he said.
He also pointed out that the proposed Bill if considered should look into the various aspects, such as the ‘sacrosanct’ blood relationship between the clans held till date by the Khasi Pnar which bars inter-marriage, the issue of ‘Matrilineal’ is also being questioned by some quarters where we find some families and their children have adopted their father’s clan, and hence these doubts and challenges are coming up in absence of effective codification, recognition, awareness and legislation.
“Another matter of relevance is that some Khasi-Pnar families have in the past also independently and without authorization of the Clan Dorbar have changed their clan name – what would be the fate of these families in the absence of such regulation,” Kharshiing said.
He also suggested that mandatory registration in the Clan Dorbar National Citizenship Register of the respective individuals in their Clan Dorbar office will be an effective mechanism in regulating the 3367 Clan Dorbar(s).
GCCM said that census once a year, recording and compilation of the annual proceedings (Dorbar Kut Snem) of each Clan Dorbar will be critical to understanding the progress and growth of the Khasi Pnar