KHADC directive against change of clan, surname

SHILLONG, June 2: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has directed that no Khasi person should change their clan, surname or assume any other Khasi surname without the written consent of the council.
“It has come to the notice of the Executive Committee of KHADC that several individuals have changed their surname, clan and taken or assumed other Khasi surname, clan by way of an affidavit,” the KHADC said in a statement.
It stated that section 12 of the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act, 1997 prohibits change of the surname or clan without the written consent of the registration authority and the executive committee of the KHADC.
The executive committee has also instructed all authorities within the jurisdiction of the KHADC not to accept any change of surname, clan by any individual without the written consent of the competent authority.
Meanwhile, KHADC Chief Executive Member, Titossarwell Chyne has written to his Karbi Anglong counterpart Tuliram Ronghang suggesting the need to convene a special meeting between the two councils on the need to resolve the long pending interstate border dispute between Meghalaya and Assam.
In a letter addressed to Ronghang, Chyne said that the two councils can discuss the matter thoroughly and the decisions taken during the meeting may be submitted to the respective state governments for necessary action.
“In the mean time, I feel that peace should be maintained at all cost and harassment of any sort to the residents especially the Khasi-Pnar communities should be stopped in order to respect the sentiment and their fundamental rights as enshrined under the Constitution of India,” Chyne said.
“I hope you will consider this initiative,” the KHADC CEM added.