THE VPP-led Khasi Hills District Council and the traditional institution of Syiemship have ultimately crossed swords. Things have come to such a pass that even the banned insurgent outfit – Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has stepped in to condemn the VPP for transgressing tradition and culture by appointing a Christian convert to the Syiemship of Hima Sohra. The HNLC also objects that the new Syiem of Hima Mylliem, appointed after the suspension of the former Syiem Aiman Manik Syiem, is also a Christian. The problem with holding on to tradition while also having signed the Instrument of Accession to the Indian Union and accepting the Indian Constitution is that people selectively choose to forget their allegiance to the latter. The Autonomous District Councils are a creation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. It doesn’t matter whether the person who initiated the Sixth Schedule was a Christian or someone from the indigenous faith (NiamTynrai). JJM Nichols Roy did what he considered necessary to safeguard tribal autonomy at a time when the Khasi & Jaintia Hills were part of the State of Assam with a majority non-tribal population. Those in the HNLC today were not born at that challenging hour, so their disparaging remarks about JJM Nichols Roy are unwarranted.
The Sixth Schedule (specifically Paragraph 3) empowers Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) to legislate and regulate the appointment, succession, and administration of traditional chiefs – the Syiems – Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Sordar, Bakhraw, the Rangbah Shnong etc. The Sixth Schedule acts as the enabling framework, while specific acts passed by the ADCs—like the Mylliem Syiemship Act, 2007 dictate the precise terms. Nowhere in those rules is it mentioned that a Syiem who is a Christian cannot hold office or that only a person from the Niam Tynrai can be appointed the Syiem. While the Syiems were traditionally selected, the appointment often involves a combination of nomination by the “Syiem clan” (Lai Kpoh) and affirmation/election by the electors (Basan/Myntri) of the Hima. Upon election, the Executive Committee of the District Council reviews the result and recommends the appointment. The appointment is formalized through a Sanad issued after approval. The Syiem and his Durbar can appoint a Deputy Syiem, subject to approval by the ADC.
Conditions for appointment as Syiem of Mylliem are that (a) The person must have good moral character; (b) He must be a native resident of Mylliem Syiemship; (c) He must be able to read, write and speak the Khasi language; (d) He must not be an employee of any recognized institution, college, university, Government Department, Government Organization or District Council; and (e) He must not be a member of any political party. Last but not least the Syiem should not have been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude. Perhaps the Syiems forget that the District Council has an oversight role over the Syiemships which implies that the Syiems should provide annual reports of the financial accruals from all markets and other levies within the Syiemship. Hence the allegation that Ainam Syiem of Hima Mylliem never paid the Khasi Hills District Council (KHDC) its dues is legitimate. Out of a figure of Rs 3.24 crore due to the KHDC, only Rs 12 lakh was remitted although the Syiemship collected Rs 25.98 crore between 2018-19 and 2024-25. The question is where did the money go? In the final analysis it is the lack of accountability in the deployment of funds by the Syiems which requires a larger discussion and not tradition.
