By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 31: The Relief and Rehabilitation Colony or R&R Colony, with its unique jurisdiction characteristics has found itself in a whirlpool of trouble as the KHADC on Thursday declared that it does not recognise any document or No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the R&R Colony Social Welfare Society for renewal of trading licences within its jurisdiction.
Talking to reporters after the meeting with the members of the Dorbar Shnong of Rynjah, KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pyniaid Sing Syiem said that the council will only recognise documents or NOC issued by the Dorbar Shnong and the authority of the Dorbar Shnong Rynjah.
The CEM said that the KHADC does not recognise any self-styled headman, while also making it clear that a non-Khasi will not be able to hold the position of the Rangbah Shnong.
According to Syiem, anybody from R&R Colony, known as Them Rynjah since 2019, claiming to be the headman is not recognised by the Council.
He said that all the localities and areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Hima Mylliem will have to abide by the provisions laid down in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Appointment and Succession of Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Electors and Rangbah Shnong of Mylliem Syiemship) Act, 2007.
“We will take stringent action if anyone violates the directive of the council and the Hima Mylliem,” KHADC CEM said.
The incumbent Rangbah Shnong of Rynjah, Eddie War said that Them Rynjah or R&R Colony falls under the jurisdiction of Rynjah Dorbar.
He also mentioned that the resolution of 2007 was scrapped in 2009 during the tenure of previous KHADC CEM, Pynshngain N Syiem.
The HITO had on Tuesday sought a clarification from the executive committee member of the Relief and Rehabilitation Colony (R&R Colony) Social Welfare Society on the NOC issued by the society for renewal of the trading licences of the shopkeepers function within its jurisdiction. The members of the society had shown the organisation a copy of the resolution adopted in the meeting of the traders of R&R Colony held on February 16, 2007.
On that day, the then KHADC EM in-charge of Trade, Sanbor Shullai, along with local MLA AL Hek had visited RR Colony in connection with the matter of trading licences.
After physical inspection of the boundary of the locality, Shullai was convinced that the colony, which was acquired in 1957-58 by the then Assam government to rehabilitate displaced persons of erstwhile East Pakistan and West Pakistan, was neither a part of Rynjah nor Umpling and had its own boundary and distinct identity.
Shullai had also gone through the resolution adopted at a joint meeting of the three localities viz., Umpling, Rynjah and Umpling (R), held at a meeting on February 23, 1981, at Umpling Police Station under the chairmanship of K Pyngrope, whereby it was resolved that the three localities would have separate identities and jurisdictions.
The 2007 resolution mentioned, “Later addressing a general meeting of the traders of the locality, which was presided over by UK Das, Headman, AL Hek, MLA, emphatically stated that the people of Relief & Rehabilitation Colony have the right to self-governance as has been since the inspection of the locality.”
Hek had further said that the local administrative needs and civic amenities were being catered to by the Headman of R&R Colony and the local R&R Colony Welfare Society. Therefore, the NOCs for trading and other purposes should be obtained only from the Headman of R&R Colony, Hek said according to the resolution.
Shullai, while endorsing the views of Hek, had also expressed his satisfaction over the clearing of doubts and misgivings on the character of the land and boundary of R&R Colony and assured the assembled traders that all genuine Indian citizens would be issued trading licences by the KHADC for professing various trades and businesses in the locality upon procurement of NOCs from the Headman of R&R Colony.
Rynjah Headman War also argued that R&R Colony has not been recognised by the KHADC or the Syiem of Hima Mylliem.
War said that the R&R Colony Social Welfare Society cannot issue any NOC for renewing of the trading licence. “But we have not complained against any activities of the society if it is not infringing into the powers and function of the Dorbar Shnong,” War added.
Although he said he would not able to provide the exact number of non-tribal traders operating in Them Rynjah, the Rangbah Shnong, however, revealed that more than 100 applications have been received for NOC to renew the trading licence.