SHILLONG: KHNAM state youth president, Thomas Passah, has met the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chairman, Pyniaid Sing Syiem, over the issue of misuse of Khasi surnames.
KHNAM, in the presentation to the Chairman, expressed concern over the impotence of the KHADC notwithstanding its complaint with the Council to take action against one Venu Sishupal Rampal who, Passah alleged, has illegally taken Khasi surname sans any credibility.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Passah said, “We were informed that the Council cannot take action against him since he has already obtained his Scheduled Tribe certificate in 1982, much before the commencement of the Lineage Act 1997”.
He pointed out that the government of India has issued a set of points which need to be taken into account before issuing such certificates.
The KHNAM alleged that Rampal has illegally taken the surname of Pariat and also passed the same surname to his offspring.
The KHNAM has, meanwhile, suggested the Council to verify the ancestral identity of Rampal and not only rely on Scheduled Tribe certificate.
