SHILLONG, MAR 28: The Opposition bench in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council has asked the VPP-led executive committee to hold consultations with all MDCs before convening a special session on amendments to Rule 128 of the Assam District Rules, and to clarify the fate of a 2018 Bill that sought wider revisions.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne said that THE Garo Hills unrest and the GHADC’s recent amendment barring non-tribals from council polls had sharpened the need for KHADC to act — but only after an open discussion.
“We are not saying the amendments must be the same as GHADC,” he said.
“If you say Scheduled Tribe, there are so many tribes recognised as ST under the 1950 Order. When we say KHADC, it should mean specially for the Khasi tribe.”
Chyne noted the 2018 amendment Bill, passed when late Hispreaching Son Shylla was CEM, went beyond Rule 128 to rename the Rules as Khasi Hills Autonomous District Rules, deleting “Assam” from the 1950-era law.
“AD Rules are the same for all three ADCs. We proposed each council should have its own rules,” he said, adding that GHADC’s recent change had received gubernatorial assent.
He said the 2018 Bill had been sent to the District Council Affairs department and an expert committee, which raised 11 queries that KHADC clarified at the time.
Since the Bill remains pending, the House cannot bring a fresh one unless it first recalls the earlier measure “for further examination” or moves a new version.
Chyne said the KHNAM had flagged amendments to Rule 128, but a collective call was needed.
“This is not about personal interest but the interest of the council and the indigenous community,” he said. He criticised the VPP-led CEM for not meeting the Opposition despite prior notice, saying media sparring was “childish.”
“We are a constructive Opposition,” he said, listing other issues they wanted raised – the resignation of KHADC standing counsel T. Diengdoh, the temporary suspension of the council secretary, and pending clarifications on constituency schemes.
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