Jowai, Naitung 07: The new Village Administration Bills requires that all Dorbar Shnong Raid and Dorbar Hima should ensure that there is no more ostracisation, no expelling and it will mandate that the Annual Dorbar is conducted regularly once a year and that the KHADC and JHADC should preserve this basic traditional practice which is beginning to erode.
A meeting of the Synjuk Rangbah Shnong, East Jaintia Hills District, was held on Saturday, 6 July 2013, at the club hall of Khliehriat (East) to discuss the proposed KHADC Village Administration Bill 2013 and the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule, the meeting was presided over by Mr Crosslin Rymbai, President, Synjuk Nongsynshar Shnong, East Jaintia Hills District.
The Synjuk Rangbah Shnong, East Jaintia, invited Bah John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board(MSPB), Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, & Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, to address the Village Headmen (Rangbah Shnong) of East Jaintia Hills District, and to enlighten them on the proposed Village Bill likely to be passed by the KHADC and in all probability the JHADC would also follow suit and pass similar Legislation.
Bah John F Kharshiing, Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, in his speech stated that it has been quite an effort in codification as it will be after 61 years of KHADC that a Village Administration Bill will be finally legislated by the KHADC.
A number of Rangbah Shnong including leaders of NGOs expressed total surprise and vehemently opposed the proposed Amendments to the Sixth Schedule and the proposed KHADC Village Administration Bill 2013, as till date there has not been much knowledge nor discussions about such amendments in Jaintia Hills, especially since such Laws, Acts were meant for the people. All were unanimous that the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) should urgently initiate discussions with the Rangbah Shnong, Dolloi and NGOs so as to inform them of the proposed changes and to ensure that the traditional customs and practice is not diluted in the new amendments of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
They urged Bah John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, MSPB, Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya to take up initiate the matter with the CEM and MDCs of JHADC.
Bah John F Kharshiing, Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, Chairman, Ka Dorbar ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep, & Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, in his address stated that there has been a long pending need for legislation of an Administration Bill for Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raij, and Dorbar Hima Administration, so as to codify and protect the traditions and customary rights of the people, the legislation would also enlighten the present generation and the people at large about the sacred customary laws, rules and regulation of their administrative, legislative, executive, judiciary rights and traditions.
The gathering expressed serious reservations to a new Village Development Council, under the Village Dorbar Shnong, as such Development Councils would usurp the role, function and duties of the Dorbar Shnong there would inevitable be conflict of authority. They stated that till date the Rangbah Shnong and Dorbar Shnong, whenever allotted, successfully implemented the MDCs, MLAs and MP schemes through the Dorbar Shnong, hence where was the need to create another parallel body within the same village.
He however stated that the proposed Administration bill which was urgently necessary would provide clarity as to the role, function, and duties of the Rangbah Shnong and the Dorbar Shnong. The new bill would mandate all the Dorbar from Village to Dorbar Hima to preserve their social and customary laws such as holding their customary Annual Dorbar every year, where the citizens (u khun u hajar) would receive their annual reports of the working of the various levels of traditional governance.
Bah John F Kharshiing, however expressed serious reservations as to certain sections of the proposed Village Development Council wherein the process of ‘majority’ was preferred to the traditional process of ‘consensus’, and felt this would destroy the very fragile foundation of age old traditional governance, and would lead to the division of the village.
He also urged the Village Rangbah Shnong to ensure that they understood the provisions of the Administration Bill as there was also a section of ‘prohibitions’ wherein they would have to ensure that there was no more ostracisation, and they should also ensure that the peace was maintained within the village and that no one should take law into their hands. These responsibilities required proper understand of the entire village.
He urged the Rangbah Shnong to visit the office of the JHADC to collect copies of Laws legislated by the ADCs so that they are fully aware of the legislation. He urged them to properly read provisions of the The United Khasi & Jaintia Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Justice) Rules 1953, and also the provisions of the The Meghalaya Town & Country Planning Act 1973 so that they understand the issues involved and the consequences thereof as most of the villages were in the dark as to the many laws legislated by the Law Makers legislated since 1973.
He informed them that the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya continue with their reminder to the Government of India calling for the implementation of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement of 17 August 1948 and for provision of a thirteen schedule to constitute a party less council for the Traditional Chiefs of Meghalaya. He also reminded that earlier the NDA govt had recommended that five Syiem, Dolloi and Nokma be members of the ADC however the Chiefs had rejected the proposal as they were party less while the ADCs were party based and had then given a call for de-politicising the ADCs in Meghalaya
He express his concern that till date the JHADC was yet to legislate Acts and Rule for the customary laws of the 18 Dolloiship and 1 sirdarship in Jaintia Hills, while in Khasi Hills out of the 54 Hima and Elaka only about 17 Acts have been legislated so far by the KHADC in accordance to para 3 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
He invited all the Rangbah Shnong to attend a special meeting on the 13 August 2013, to be held in the Khasi National Hall, Mawkhar, Shillong from 11 am to remember the 65 years of Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement, which was accepted by the Government of India on 17 August 1948.
Others present and who participated were Bah Pdianghun Dkhar, General Secretary, SKSSJHD, the many Rangbah Shnong, Village Elders, from the various Elaka of East Jaintia Hills of Elaka Rymbai, Sutnga, Narpuh, Lakadong, Amwi, Nongkhlieh, Saipung, Jowai, including leaders of NGOs, including the President JSU Narpuh Circle, President JYF, Saipung Circle, from East Jaintia Hills District.(SP News)
