SHILLONG, March 2: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation and Administration of Land) Bill, 2021, was on Tuesday referred to the select committee by the KHADC.
The KHADC Chief Executive Member, Titosstarwell Chyne, while replying to the amendment motion moved by Congress MDC, Bajop Pyngrope, told the House that the Executive Committee has decided to refer the Bill to the select committee as per the request of Opposition members.
“The select committee will have ten days’ time to examine and further improve on the Bill. Subsequently, we will convene a special session to pass the Bill,” Chyne said.
Maintaining that he is not a CEM who would want to bulldoze, he said that moved by this trait, he decided to accept the request to refer the bill to the select committee.
Besides KHADC CEM, who is the chairman of the panel, the select committee will comprise two Executive Members —Martle Mukhim and Paul Lyngdoh, who is also the Leader of Opposition — as well as Independent MDCs Lamphrang Blah and Pynshngain N Syiem and nominated MDC, Bindo Mathew Lanong.
Earlier, moving the amendment motion, Pyngrope said that the Bill requires further deliberation.
“I am of the view that the word record of rights which is mentioned in the amendment Bill is presumptive in nature. This can be challenged in the court of law. Therefore, there is a need to remove the word and replace it by land title certificate,” the Congress MDC from Rambrai-Jyrngam said, while also calling for the Bill to be referred to the select committee.
Echoing similar views while participating in the amendment motion, Independent MDC, Pynshngain N Syiem, said that if the amendment Bill is passed, it will work like a boomerang for the Council.
He further said that the use of the word ‘land record’ would mean that the KHADC will no longer have autonomy, adding that the Council would be subjected to submit land records to the Directorate of Land Record and Survey.
