SHILLONG: The Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong (SKRS), an association of headmen of Greater Shillong, will ask the State Government to give “official recognition” to the Rangbah Shnong besides seeking “Government’s intervention” in ending the “stalemate prevailing on account of the ruling of the High Court of Meghalaya”.
A decision in this regard was taken on Saturday at the meeting of SRKS attended by Rangbah Shnong and secretaries of Dorbar Shnong from various localities of the city and its outskirts.
SKRS president, Werlok Kharshiing said that at present various departments of the Government are using the service of Rangbah Shnong in several of their official assignments like the implementation of Government schemes among others.
“They (Rangbah Shnong) too are supporting the departments within their limited capacity to ensure that the various initiatives of the Government reach the people. But post the recent court ruling, we deserve an official recognition from the State Government to prevent any questions being raised on the duties the Rangbah Shnong perform,” Kharshiing told newsmen after the meeting.
He also said that the SRKS will meet Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to seek the intervention of the State Government to put an end to the “peculiar situation” which has put the traditional institutions in a spot of bother.
Kharshiing also said that the SRKS will urge the State Government to appeal against the ruling of the High Court.
He also asserted that the elected representatives and not the traditional institutions are responsible for the current stalemate.
“It is the complete failure of the elected representatives to formulate laws on the powers and functioning of the Rangbah Shnong that has led to this unpleasant situation which could have been avoided otherwise,” he said.
While admitting that the ruling of the court is wake up call for the traditional institutions in the State, SKRS general secretary RL Blah said that the conglomeration fully endorses to the arguments on the need to have a proper legislation to define the functions and powers of the Rangbah Shnong.
“We are happy that the KHADC has formulated the Khasi Hills District (Village Administration) Bill, 2012. This ruling of the High Court will no longer be applicable if the bill becomes an Act with the assent of the Governor,” he said.
The SKRS general secretary added that the powers and functions of the Rangbah Shnong have been properly defined in the village administration bill.
Blah also urged upon the KHADC to speed up the exercise of correcting the “flaws” in the bill and send it back to the State Government at the earliest.
Meanwhile, SKRS vice president, H Syiem has not taken kindly the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner’s direction to the various departments to “undermine” the role of the Rangbah Shnong. The office of the Deputy Commissioner has from time to time sought the assistance of the Rangbah Shnong for implementing various government programmes and even in maintaining law and order, he reminded.
