Shillong, June 2: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has urged all competent authorities not to accept the changing of surname/clan to any other Khasi surname/clan by an individual without the written consent of the Council’s Registration Authority and Executive Committee.

A notification issued by the KHADC on Thursday said, “Further, the EC would like to instruct to all the competent authorities within the jurisdiction of the KHADC not to accept the changing of surname/clan to any other Khasi surname/clan by an individual without the written consent of the Registration Authority and EC of the KHADC.”

This was after it came to the notice of the KHADC executive committee that several individuals change their surname/clan and take or assume any other Khasi surname/clan by way of declaration/affidavit.

The notification said section 12 of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act 1997 has prohibited the change of the surname or clan and to take or assume any other Khasi surname/clan without the written consent of the Registration Authority and the Executive Committee, KHADC.

Hence, the Executive Committee inform to the general public that no person shall change his/her surname/clan and to take or assume any other Khasi surname/clan without the written consent of the Registration Authority and the Executive Committee, KHADC as per the provision of the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act 1997, it added.