By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 8: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has appointed an administrator to oversee the affairs of Sandi Mustoh village in Shella following the suspension of the village Rangbah Shnong and an ongoing inquiry into the matter.
Executive Member (EM) in-charge of the Elaka department, Denzil R. Chen, said on Sunday that the decision was taken in view of the inquiry being conducted by the Wahadadar of the Shella Confederacy against the suspended Rangbah Shnong. “We had to appoint an administrator since there is an ongoing inquiry,” Chen said.
He informed that the village election, which was scheduled to be held in December last year, had been put on hold in light of the prevailing situation.
“A decision on conducting the election will be taken only after we receive the report of the ongoing inquiry,” the EM added.
Earlier, Chen had stated that the Council would first examine all relevant documents and allegations linked to the suspension before arriving at any conclusion. Stressing the need for caution, he said the priority was to find a solution that would be in the best interest of the villagers and help resolve the deadlock.
“I need to properly study what would be the most acceptable solution in the interest of the villagers. I have to find out the grounds and reasons for the suspension of the Rangbah Shnong and understand why the Wahadadar instituted an inquiry,” Chen had said.
He further emphasised that since the Wahadadar is the appellate authority in the matter, the KHADC would wait for the inquiry to be completed before intervening.
“If the aggrieved group is unhappy with the findings of the inquiry, then I will decide whether to confirm or reverse those findings. My decision will be based strictly on merit. It is too premature for me to intervene now,” the EM had said.
The situation in Sandi Mustoh has become increasingly complex due to claims and counterclaims among different groups within the village. The aggrieved group had earlier received approval to hold elections for members of the village dorbar’s Executive Committee, claiming that their term had ended.
However, Chen had questioned the feasibility of holding elections in the absence of a full-fledged Rangbah Shnong. The aggrieved group had argued that village tradition allowed the dorbar shnong secretary to manage affairs during a leadership vacuum, a claim that was rejected by the Wahadadar.
“The Wahadadar made it clear that there is no such system where the secretary can oversee village administration in the absence of a Rangbah Shnong,” Chen had said.
