New Syiem appointed based on election held on HC order: Ardent
SHILLONG: KHADC CEM Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Tuesday said the previous Congress-led Executive Committee (EM) had failed to abide by the findings of its own inquiry over the demand to remove Syiem of Malai-Sohmat, Ryngkatdor Malai.
“On the directive of the EC, the Additional District Council Court had constituted a one-man inquiry committee in 2010 to investigate the functioning of the Syiem of Malai Sohmat,” Basaiawmoit said.
The inquiry report submitted to the EC on July 8, 2010, clearly stated that the management of the affairs of the Syiemship by Ryngkatdor Malai was against the provision of the District Council laws and also violated Section 6 of the United Khasi Jaintia Hills District (Appointment and Succession of Chief and Headman) Act, 1951, Basaiawmoit claimed.
Strangely, despite the findings of the inquiry committee, the then KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem had issued an order on December 21, 2011 that although the charges framed against the suspended Syiem of Malai Sohmat had been proven they were serious enough to warrant his removal from the post of Syiem, Basaiawmoit said, adding that a writ petition was also filed in the High Court of Meghalaya for removal of the Syiem.
“After hearing the writ petition, the High Court in March this year issued a directive to the Executive Committee that they should hold an election within a period of three months to appoint a regular Syiem,” the KHADC CEM said.
As per the directive of the Court, the KHADC held the election on June 13 where Paialast Iawrod secured the highest number of votes (302 out of total 429 votes) and was elected as the Syiem of Malai Sohmat.
On the question raised by the Opposition in allowing the Iawrod clan to participate in the election, Basaiawmoit said that the District Council Tribunal Court in June 2011 had passed a judgement that the Iawrod clan has the right to contest for the post of Syiem.
He said that the contention of the Opposition was that only the Malai and Sohmat clans are allowed to contest for the post of Syiem.
Referring to Section 9 (i) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Nomination and Election of the Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Myntri, Basan and Rangbah Shnong of Bhowal Syiemship) Act, 2008, the KHADC CEM said that if at any time the office of the Syiem becomes vacant as a result of death, resignation, retirement due to old age, removal or suspension, the EC may issue a written order to appoint as Deputy Syiem any adult male belonging to the Nandah clan of Bhowal Syiemship duly approved or recommended by the Syiem clan through the Durbar Kur Pyllung and shall exercise all powers and functions of the Syiem. He said that Section 9 (ii) further states that no Acting Syiem shall be appointed without the recommendations of the Syiem clan through the Durbar Kur Pyllun. “This provision laid down in the Act is an attempt to demean the supremacy of the Council over the affairs of the Hima,” Basaiawmoit claimed.
Taking note of this fact, the EC brought the amendment bill by inserting a new clause where the EC is authorized to appoint the Deputy Syiem or any other Khasi male adult belonging to customary ruling clan of the Hima who shall exercise all the powers and function of the Syiem, Basaiawmoit added.