SHILLONG, June 17: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) executive on Wednesday admitted that the Khasi Lineage Act is “silent” on parents who abandon the matrilineal naming system, yet simultaneously warned that anyone violating the law risks the total loss of their Khasi tribal identity.
The debate over the interpretation of the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act triggered heated exchanges during the opening day of the KHADC Summer Session on Wednesday. Opposition members, led by Nongskhen MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri and Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne, demanded to know if the law strictly upholds the tradition of children inheriting their mother’s clan name.
Kharpuri argued that any deviation from the matrilineal tradition weakens Khasi custom and creates confusion regarding inheritance and clan identity.
In her response, Executive Member (EM) in-charge of Law, Deity Majaw, acknowledged that the 1997 Act does not specifically address cases where parents choose not to pass on the mother’s surname. She noted that a 2022 state government notification currently recognises children born to Khasi parents as Khasi regardless of the clan name adopted, but pointed out that the matter is sub judice before the High Court of Meghalaya.However, despite the legal ambiguity and the “silent” nature of the Act, Majaw issued a stern warning. She stated that under Section 10 of the law, any person found violating the Act’s provisions risks being stripped of their Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
“Those who violate the Act shall cease to be recognised as Khasi. Likewise, those who deny being Khasi may also lose such recognition,” Majaw told the House.
The contradiction leaves many families in a legal grey area; while the Council admits the law is currently unclear and under judicial scrutiny, it continues to threaten individuals with the permanent loss of their tribal identity and associated rights for non-compliance.
