By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 10: The Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) on Wednesday raised concerns over the delay in Governor’s assent to the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Amendment) Bill, 2023. During the Question Hour on the first day of the Council’s Summer Session, UDP MDC from Nongpoh, Balajied Ranee, questioned the reasons behind the delay. “We would like to know the reasons for the delay on the part of the Governor,” Ranee said. He emphasised the importance of the amendment bill, which will facilitate the registration of the Dorbar Kur or Seng Kur within the Council’s jurisdiction.
Ranee pointed out that the Council had agreed to the District Council Affairs (DCA) department’s suggestion to remove the Clan Bill to avoid any contradictions with the Lineage Act. “I wonder why the government still has the problem to give his assent since we have complied with the suggestion given by the DCA department,” he added. In response, KHADC Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM), Pynshngain N Syiem, explained that the DCA department identified minor defects in the amendment in May that needed correction. “We have not wasted any time since within a few days we have again forwarded the amendment bill to the DCA department after doing the necessary correction. We are now hoping that the amendment bill will get the assent at the earliest,” he said.
The KHADC had passed the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in December last year. The bill aims to make it mandatory for the Dorbar Kur or Seng Kur to register with the council and to include the ‘Ring Bia or Shaw Bhoi’.
