SHILLONG, March 8: The much-talked about Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Inheritance of Property) Bill, which was introduced by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) in 2021, is yet to become a full-fledged legislation.
The Council, since referring the Bill to the select committee for scrutiny, has sat on the issue, but on Tuesday, Chief Executive Member (CEM) Titosstarwell Chyne, sought the approval of the House to give the committee more time to examine and discuss the Bill.
Tabling a report in this regard on the first day of the Council’s Budget Session, Chyne informed the House that the select committee has convened a meeting to deliberate over the Bill. “But more time is required to enable the committee to study the Bill, before submitting its final report to the House,” the CEM said.
He stated that the Executive Committee introduced the Bill with the intention to make provisions for regulation and administration of inheritance of property among the Khasi populace in consonance with the prevailing practice of the Khasis.
“However, when the said Bill was taken into consideration, an amendment was moved by a member, G Wahlang, for further examination by the select committee constituted by the House and the same was accepted,” Chyne recalled.
It may be noted that soon after the Bill was unveiled, regional fronts like the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), among others, had stressed that the Bill should have been placed in the public domain for discussion. The HSPDP had also stated that public discourse was necessary on such a contentious issue.
Even organisations like the Maitshaphrang Movement, which is known to have been campaigning over the issue of inheritance for decades, have pointed out that there was never any demand for any legislation on this, and they want the matter to be debated within the family first.
The KHADC CEM had, however, maintained that it is not always necessary to place bills in public domain since the people have elected the MDCs to speak on their behalf. He pointed out that there has been debate on social media ever since the Council announced that it would table the Bill.
It is worth mentioning that the Bill seeks to amend the age-old tradition of the Khasis wherein the youngest daughter inherits the parental property, and if passed, the legislation will permit equal distribution of parental property among all siblings – both male and female; if the parents desire so.
