SHILLONG: Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, John Kharshiing deplored that the candidates and political parties have been silent on the agreement under the conditional Instrument of Accession.
Kharshiing, who is also the spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, said the traditional institutions have become mute spectators to the Indian festival of elections.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kharshiing said that on May 15, 1989, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, while introducing 73rd and 74th Amendment Act referred to Article 243 mentioning exemption from the Bill referring to the existence of the traditional institutions of self government and the District Councils in Meghalaya under Sixth Schedule.
“However, while District Councils are mentioned in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, there are no articles to define the role, function, power, jurisdiction and responsibilities of the traditional Institutions of self government, (particularly the 25 Khasi States – Federation of Khasi States, Sirdars, Dolloi, and Nokmas ) in the Constitution of India, thereby keeping them in limbo till date primarily due to the non-fulfillment of the national commitment by the Centre to the small tribe who has repeatedly been petitioning the Centre for the last 70years (1948-2019)”.
Even the architect of the Sixth Schedule JJM Nichols Roy lamented in his memo at a later stage that he was shocked as to how the Sixth Schedule was redrafted at the last minute due to the pressure from the Cabinet ministers of the then Premiere of Assam Gopinath Bordoloi, which has led to conflicts on the ground.
On the other hand the United Khasi & Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Appointment and Succession of Chiefs and Headmen Act 1959 and all subsequent Acts and Rules legislated by the ADCs have become more of a dilution of the customary laws and relegated the Khasi Chiefs. The 1959 Act bars all Chiefs from participating in politics – this is another serious anomaly in the Act. “This Act of 1959 is in conflict with the election guidelines for a free and fair election”, Kharshiing said.
