SHILLONG, July 1: Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne has defended the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Trading by Non-Tribals) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which mandates compulsory service licences for every non-tribal employee in trade and business.
Chyne’s defence came after Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai urged Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar to withhold assent, claiming the Bill suffers from legal infirmities, lacks legislative competence and violates the Constitution.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Chyne clarified that trading licences regulate trade while the amendment bill covers employees and labour. He recalled that the KHADC previously issued labour licences until the state government amended the Labour Act and took over the function. During his tenure as CEM, the Council had required labourers to obtain clearance certificates before joining work in areas under its jurisdiction.
Chyne expressed hope that the Governor would grant assent, asserting that the KHADC is empowered under the Sixth Schedule to issue such licences.
Shullai had claimed the Bill overreaches the Council’s jurisdiction by extending regulatory control from independent traders to employees.
