SHILLONG: The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya has urged the State Government to initiate a “Party less Regional Council” for the traditional tribal governing institutions of the State.
“We proposed the creation of a Party less Council so as to include and provide political space to the party less institution in the Khasi States,” GCCM chairman John F Kharshiing stated in a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma here on Monday.
He said that they have been pursuing with the Union Government to fulfill its National Commitment as mentioned in the White Paper on Indian States 1950, for inclusion of the Indigenous people of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes of Meghalaya under Article 370 in accordance with the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement, accepted by the Government of India on Dec 15, 1947, and Aug 17, 1948 (IOA & AA).
“An official communication to this effect was also sent from the Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to MHA on January 6 last year. Similar observations in support of our petition were also made by National Human Rights Commission, (Law Division), on June 16, 2012,” Kharshiing said.
He also informed that on the change of Government at the Centre, they had sent another letter to the Union Minister of Home Affairs in August last year relating to the recommendation for Instrument of Accession and Agreement for incorporation in the Constitution of India, the Customary Laws under the Chiefs of the Federation of 25 Khasi States through a separate Federal or Regional Council.
“A recent special Dorbar gathering of all the Chiefs from village, Raid and Hima level, unanimously passed resolutions urging the Government of Meghalaya to pass necessary resolution in the Meghalaya Assembly to urge the Centre to include the treaty terms of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement within the Constitution of India,” Kharshiing said.
“It would be in the fitness of things if the State Government can initiate correction of the constitutional anomaly, to ensure that the State, the ADCs and traditional institutions approach this matter in New Delhi with one voice,” the GCCM chairman said