SHILLONG: A group of women who support the Khasi Hill Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018, has teamed up to oppose other women’s groups who are critical of the bill.
In a meeting held on Tuesday, the supporters of the bill formed a group called STIEH (Saindur, Tipkur Tipkha, Ieng, Ehrngiew, Khun Hynniewtrep).
The conveners are Rani Kurbah, Deiwi Tongper and Purity Phawa, who will organise public meetings on the Bill.
STIEH will have a meeting on August 3 at the Khasi National Dorbar Hall at 11 am. The pro-bill group has urged the governor to give his assent.
CSWO, TUR approach govt
Two organisations, CSWO and TUR, which have denounced the bill, have also approached the government and raised questions about the validity of the amendment.
Both CSWO and TUR on Tuesday urged the District Council Affairs Department and minister in charge to ensure that “due process is followed and that the governor gets all the inputs and comments” that will enable him to study the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Second Amendment Bill), 2018.
“In fact, people need clarification on the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (First Amendment Bill), 2015, which proposed among other things, provisions regarding the institutions of dorbar kur and the process of appointment of rangbah kur etc. We need to know whether the first amendment was assented to and if so, how is it that the amendments are not reflected anywhere? If the first amendment does not exist in law, then how is it that the second amendment is being proposed? We will not accept any fraud on legislative processes and clerical or numbering error cannot be given as an excuse,” the organisations said in a statement.
“Had the bill been drafted with due diligence and had wide and transparent consultations taken place, there would be no room for such casual and lackadaisical attitude towards bringing in legislations that will gravely affect people,” they added.
CSWO and TUR insisted that the views of the Law Department, besides the District Council Affairs Department, be solicited and all clarifications, views and comments along with the bills be put up in the public domain.
