By Our Reporter
Shillong, Sep 22: The KHADC on Friday unanimously resolved to recall the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Clan Administration) Bill, 2022, on the first day of the two-day special session of the council.
The House also resolved to allow the Executive Committee to constitute a panel comprising members from both ruling and opposition to fine tune and rectify the defects in the bill before re-introducing it in the House.
Earlier, KHADC Deputy CEM PN Syiem tabled the report of the advisory committee headed by senior member, Bindo Mathew Lanong containing recommendations on the views and observations made by the Law department on the clan bill.
Leader of Opposition, Titosstarwell Chyne questioned the EC’s decision to table the report in the House, saying that EC is creating a wrong precedent by tabling the report of the advisory committee which has lowered the dignity of the House.
The state government had returned the clan bill since it is in conflict with the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997.
The Deputy CEM said the government had sought clarification from the KHADC since the word “clan” is mentioned in both the clan bill and the lineage act.
KHADC CEM, Pyniaid Sing Syiem said the Law department has mentioned the conflict between the clan bill and the lineage bill.
“After properly going through the bill we also noticed the conflict between the two bills. It is for this reason we decided to refer the matter to the advisory committee,” he said.
Meanwhile, KHADC Deputy CEM also introduce Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Elaka) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Nomination, Election and Appointment of the Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Lyngdoh, Myntri, Sordar and Administration of Nongkhlaw Syiemship) Bill, 2023.
Moreover, Executive Member in-charge Trade, Gigur Myrthong introduced Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Trading by Non-Tribals) (Amendment) Rules, 2023.
The detailed discussion on the three matters will be held on the second day of the special session to be held on Monday.
Furthermore, the KHADC also decided to abandon the idea of pushing for the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Village Administration) Bill, 2014.
The KHADC CEM said it would not be easy for the KHADC to push for the bill since the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought response to as many as 18 queries on the VAB.
“We do not want to put our focus on the reply to the queries sought for by the Ministry since it is going to take a lot of time. We thought it will be better to come up with a new legislation,” Syiem said.
He revealed that the present EC has come up with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Elaka) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 which is in line with the spirit of the VAB which was already introduced on the first day of the council special session.
He further mentioned that paragraph 3G of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution only speak appointment and recognition of the Rangbah Shnongs and other traditional heads by the council.
“This amendment bill will define the role, function and responsibility of the Rangbah Shnongs once it becomes an Act. The amendment bill will also define the role and function even of the Seng Kynthei and Seng Samla which is not there till now,” Syiem said.
Meanwhile, KHADC CEM said that this amendment bill will also replicate the ILP as the Rangbah Shnong will be responsible for maintaining proper records of all the residents of his locality/village both locals and non-locals.
According to him, the Rangbah Shnong will now have to keep all the details of the people from outside the state who come to reside in their locality whether they be students, central government employees or daily labourers.
“In this way, we will be able to track them easily if there is a need or any question arises,” Syiem said.
He said that the Rangbah Shnongs will also need to report to the Dorbar Shnongs on the number of residential certificates which he has issued to the non-locals in the past one year.
Syiem also informed that this amendment bill will be applicable to all the 54 Elakas under the council.