Plea to codify customary laws to ease governance

SHILLONG: Even after 64 years of its existence, the district councils are yet to codify the customary and social laws, traditions and practices of the Hima /Elaka in Khasi Jaintia and Garo Hills resulting in clash between the councils and the traditional heads.
A case in point is the recent suspension of Dollois in Jaintia Hills by JHADC.
In a statement issued to the media on Thursday, John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya and spokesperson of Federation of Khasi States, expressed concern over the delay in codifying the customary laws.
Commenting on the suspension of Dollois, Kharshiing said he has been trying to impress upon the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills district councils for many years to legislate and codify the customary laws of the Hima/Elakas. The recent misunderstanding and conflict between the JHADC and the Dollois could have been avoided had there been a proper and timely codification of the customary and social laws and practices, he said.
Kharshiing said he had on October 26 taken up the matter with JHADC CEM Thombor Shiwat, who assured that he would look into the matter.
The customary and social laws are yet to be codified under 54 Hima/Elaka in Khasi Hills, 18 Elaka Dolloi and one Sirdarship in Jaintia Hills and 1,400 A’King and Nokmas in Garo Hills. Kharshiing said in the past he had met many Chief Executive Members in Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills and urged them to expedite the codification and legislation.
According to Kharshiing, the district councils would have been more effective and productive if the independents had formed the largest block among the MDCs in Councils.
Kharshiing further said the Federation of Khasi States submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Shillong, relating to the delay in fulfilling the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement (IOA & AA). A copy of the letter from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes was addressed to the MHA Secretary advising it to respond to the memorandum received by the Prime Minister from the Khasi States.
Kharshiing alleged that there is indifferent attitude on the part of MHA to the demand of the traditional heads.