Chyne slams KHADC Land Bill, calls for withdrawal of land ceiling notification

SHILLONG, July 12: KHADC Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne has reiterated his opposition to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation and Administration of Land) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, citing procedural flaws and the undermining of traditional institutions.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Sunday, Chyne questioned the Executive Committee’s decision to notify land ceilings before the amendment Bill was even debated in the Council. He described the sequence of events as fundamentally flawed and lacking proper process.
“A proper process should have been followed. Surprisingly, the Executive Committee issued the notification first and only later brought the amendment Bill. This decision suffers from serious flaws,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition specifically objected to the amendment of Section 16, which removed the requirement for mandatory consultation with the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid and Dorbar Hima before fixing land ceilings. He argued that bypassing these traditional bodies is unacceptable.
He maintained that the purpose of the Land Act is to codify the customary laws relating to land ownership and administration, and any decision affecting community land must be taken only after consulting the traditional authorities as mandated under the Act.
Chyne also thanked traditional heads and clan bodies, including the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong ka Bri Hynñiewtrep (SNSBH) and the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Kur (SRKBH), for demanding the recall of the Bill. Both organisations have rejected the amendment, alleging it was passed without the consent of the traditional custodians of Khasi customary institutions.
In response to the growing backlash, the KHADC Executive Committee has indicated a willingness to revisit the legislation. Executive Member in-charge of Land, Powell Sohkhlet, recently stated the Council remains open to public consultations once the Bill completes the required process at the District Council Affairs Department.
Sohkhlet further clarified that the removal of the word “consultation” from Section 16 has been misunderstood.
He maintained that extensive discussions on land ceilings had already been held with various Raids and Himas since 2021 and assured that traditional institutions would continue to play a central role in land administration.