SHILLONG, May 17? The Federation of Khasi States, apex body of 25 traditional chiefs in the Khasi Hills has rejected the recommendations of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) providing for representation for the ?Syiems?, ?Myntris? and other traditional heads in the autonomous district councils (ADCs). The Steering Committee of the Federation, which met here yesterday, is of the opinion. ?If the recommendation of the CRC is implemented, it will undermine the traditional status of the Khasi ?rulers?.
A resolution adopted at the day-long meeting of the Steering Committee declared ?If, however, the recommendation is forcefully implemented, it will considered by the Khasi States as an act of betrayal of their time-honoured and time-tested traditions.? Urging the Centre to constitutionally recognise the traditional institutions in Khasi Hills by inserting a new schedule to the Constitution as the Thirteenth Schedule, a resolution asserted ?This alone can truly and meaningfully meet the constitutional demand of the Khasi States.?
The Federation strongly believes that making the Khasi traditional chiefs as members of the ADCs will also destroy the non-political and party-less character of the traditional institutions. ?Such a move will demolish the institutions considered and held in high esteem by the Khasis?, said the Federation President Laborious Manik Syiem. The CRC in its report submitted to the Centre recently had recommended enlargement of the ADCs by providing nominated representation to Khasi Syiems, Myntris and other traditional rulers besides non-tribals.
A delegation of the Federation during its visit to New Delhi in September-October last year had urged the CRC to provide constitutional safeguard and recognition to the Khasi and Garo traditional bodies. Despite its democratic character, the traditional institutions provides no representation to the women thereby making it an obsolete body by standards of present day democratic institutions.