SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Clan Administration) Bill, 2018 was passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on the last day of the Winter Session on Thursday.
The Bill seeks to penalize non-tribals using Khasi surnames and to codify, regulate the system of Kur (clan) of the Khasi-Jaintia tribe being a matrilineal system dependent on a strong clan of Kur system.
The law provides for proper administration of clans (Kur) in order to conserve and grow the traditional matrilineal system of Khasi society for the protection of their interest and at the same time to prevent claims of Khasi status by unscrupulous persons purely for the benefits, concessions or privileges conferred on the Khasi as members of the Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution of India.
Corrigenda and addenda to the Bill were moved by the KHADC CEM HS Shylla also. In Section 2, a new definition in sub-section 2 (33) was included – U Thawlang means the common ancestor father.
Again, in Section 22, the words “Khasi Clan Tribunal” shall be replaced by the words “Tribunal on Khasi Clan Administration.”
The other Bills passed by the KHADC were the KHAD (Appointment and succession of Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Electors and Rangbah Shnong of Mylliem Syiemship) (Third Amendment), Bill 2018, KHAD (Nomination, Succession and Election of Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Lyngskor, Bakhraw and Rangbah Shnong of Khyrim Syiemship) Bill, 2018, KHAD (Appointment and Succession of Sirdar and Matabor of Mawmluh Sirdarship), Bill, 2018, KHAD ( Appointment and Succession of Sirdar and Matabor of Wahlong Sirdarship), Bill, 2018,KHAD ( Appointment and Succession of Sirdar and Headmen of Mawlong Sirdarship), Bill, 2018, KHAD (Appointment and succession of the Sirdar and headmen of Sohbar Sirdarship), Bill, 2018.