Shillong, May 09: The Federation of Khasi States has resolved to convene a thier respective Dorbar Hima in presence of (u khun u hajar) citizens to discuss issues arising out of the delay in fulfilment of the treaty terms as per the Instrument of Accession bad Annexed Agreement (IOA & AA) 17 August 1948.
The Khasi States under the collective association under the ki Federation of Khasi States held a meeting on 7th May 2019 in Shillong, under the chairmanship of Bah John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Ka Dorbar Ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep, & Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, and in this Dorbar the Indigenous Chiefs resolved to urge all the Khasi States Hima including the Sirdarship to convene their Dorbar Hima in presence of (citizens) u khun u hajar to update and deliberate on the delay in the implementation and fulfilment of the treaty terms as per the Instrument of Accession bad Annexed Agreement (IOA & AA) 17 August 1948, and to also have clarity as to the delay caused due to the lack of understanding by the Central, State and District Council authorities, inspite of reminders from the Central Government till date no resolution has taken place to implement the treaty terms of the agreement.
The Federation of Khasi States, has urged the leaders of the Federation of Khasi States to finalise the dates and address the gatherings of such Dorbar Hima and to discuss the recent proposal from the KHADC to examine and discuss the five conditions within the IOA & AA vis-a-vis the powers of para 3 of the Sixth Schedule, of Constitution of India.
The Dorbar chaired by Bah John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Ka Dorbar Ki Khlieh Nongsynshar ka Ri Hynniewtrep, bad Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, informed the Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Basan, Myntri’s, as to the recent developments and his nomination as member of the Advisory Committee on Legislation and Legal Issues, of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, (KHADC), wherein it was probably the first time since it’s inception that this Committee under the Chairmanship of Bah PN Syiem, Chairman, KHADC, has proposed to list in the Agenda the issue of examining the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement (IOA & AA) of 17 August 1948 (IOA & AA) vis-a-vis para 3 of Sixth Schedule, and sought the views of the Dorbar of the Chiefs.
After through debate, the Chiefs the Federation of Khasi States were of the view that this recent development needed proper clarity and their should not be any doubt that the principal objectives of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17 August 1948 and the principal objectives of the Sixth Schedule (very much influenced by the then Assam Government) was totally different in nature, where the foundation of the Sixth Schedule was based on represtation of MDCs from Political Parties and not representatives of the Khasi States, and also where the mandate of the Sixth Schedule included among other conflicts it also included other tribes and non-tribals, while the political institutions of the Khasi States was meant only to protect the Khasis & Jaintias of the Khasi States.
Further clause 5 of the IOA & Annexed Agreement, of 17 August 1948 clearly indicates that the Federation of Khasi States collectively and individually would have special status within the Constitution of India, where it’s status would be much different to what’s is presently with the Sixth Schedule, wherein the numerous Central Acts have been applied unconstitutionally over the Hima Khasi States due to the weak and false position of the Sixth Schedule.
The Dorbar authorised John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Dorbar and Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, to participate in the Khadc Committee and to seek clear clarification as to the actual purpose and objectives of the KHADC to examine this treaty signed by the Syiems, Lyngdoh and Sirdar of the twenty five Khasi states individually and collectively as the Federation of States, as they felt it would be morally wrong for the KHADC to seek to empower itself in the name of the IOA & AA. The Chiefs felt that any scrutiny of the rights of the Indigenous Traditional Institutions under the IOA & AA should be to in their intrest and not in the interest of a diluted Constitutional body not in consonance with the IOA & AA.
The chiefs also recalled that numerous memos have been submitted to the center, who in turn has sought opinion from the State and who also sought clarification from the KHADC on their demands for which the state government is yet to get the reply from the KHADC.
