Raphael Warjri

Shillong, 22 September: Leader of Opposition, Titosstarwell Chynne, in Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council raised an objection opposing Mr P N Syiem, Deputy Chief Executive Member over the report by the Law Department on the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Clan Administration) Bill 2022 during the special session of KHADC held on Friday.

Bah Titos rejected outright the report of the Law Department to be discussed during the session, alleging that the authority of the Council is being denigrated by such indulgence. He pointed out that the Bill was already endorsed by the Executive Committee in September 2022 and passed by the House, before it was sent to the Governor for assent. He reiterated that the bill had been discussed threadbare and assured that there was any deficiency in it. It was clarified that the word Clan appeared in both the Clan Bill and the Lineage Act, which conflicts and needs further scrutiny, the Deputy CEM stated in the session.

However, Bah Titos remarks, ‘The report by the Law Department should be summarily rejected as it is tantamount to the subordination of the legislative body of the KHADC to discuss in the session. Therefore, I demand that it should be examined properly before it is to be brought to the legislative council for discussion’.

Meanwhile, Syiem reminded the house that it was a routine formality to route the Bill through the Law Department, before sending it to the Governor for assent, lest it become easier for him to comprehend the contents of the Bill. Therefore, a committee was setup to sort out the issues pertaining to the report, to be constituted with members from both the treasury and the opposition benches of the Council.