Shillong, June 30: The Centre for Social Justice and Governance, Tata institute of social sciences, invited Shri. John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, & Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, to lecture students, research scholars, on the subject ‘ The Status of Tribal Political System Within Sixth Scheduled Areas’ A large number of students attended the lecture.
During his presentation, the Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs, gave a detailed brief as to the problems of the PARTYLESS Tribal Political Governing Systems in Meghalaya being victims of Party based political systems of the Sixth Schedule.
The non fulfillment and implementation of the treaty terms under the Instrument of Accession And Annexed Agreement 17 Aug 1948, accepted by the then Dominion of India was yet to be honoured.
It is a national wonder that more than 64 years of constitutional anomaly has not been addressed by the Central Authorities. On the ground there were conflicts with various laws legislated by Parliament, such as the Indian Registration Act 1908, the Land Acquisition Act, the Coal Mines (Nationalisation Act) 1973 & 1976.
He stated that the need to address these political agreements was vital for the peace and contentment of the North East.
Lack of understanding by the officials in New Delhi has been instrumental in the delay in giving effect to the treaties.
He elaborated that the Rulers of the Khasi States, refused and did not sign the Merger Agreements and hence did not accept the huge sums of annual payment in the namr of ‘Privy Purse’ or Pensions which were given to the rest of the over five hundred Maharaja’s of India, most of whom accepted the Instrument of Merger, which dissolved their, status and kingdoms.
On the other hand the Khasi States were also victims of the political manuverings by Assam who had put in all its efforts to oppose the fulfillment and implementation of the IOA, and instead promoted the creation of the Sixth Schedule to suite the agenda of Assam.
In total violation of the treaty agreements the Assam government coerced the Central Authorities to overlook the terms of the IOA so as to retain the territories of the Khasi States within Assam State.
The three tire structure under the Khasi States was also explained to the students, who stated that it was for the first time that they have heard of such tribal political institutions available in India.
The students where keen to know the reasons why the signatories of the treaties (Khasi States) were not members or stake holders of a body which was meant to look after their customary and social laws and is instead represented by members representing political parties. They wanted to know if the Chiefs were doing something about it. Replying to this question, the Chairman, of the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, informed the students that the GCCM has recieved favourable responses from the National Commission for Schedule Tribes, the National Commision for Human Rights, a directive from these constitutional bodies has been also sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs and to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, to resolve the agreement terms.(SP News)
