The executive committee of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will soon introduce a bill that aims to enable sons to also share in the inheritance of ancestral property.
The Khasi Inheritance of Property Bill 2021 will apply to parents whose children are all males or who have no children. It will also have provision to disinherit children who go against their parents or who get married to non-tribals and take up the culture and tradition of their spouses.
Chief Executive Member Titosstarwell Chyne told the press today that the bill will enable equitable distribution of property among the children.
“Due to the absence of a law, often there crop up many problems and difficulties,” he said.
These include attempts by the clan to snatch away property, children taking their parents to court or siblings fighting it out among each other.
“What we have maintained in the bill is that this distribution of property should be equal among the siblings both males and females. That is the objective,” Chyne stated, adding that this depends, though, on the will of the parents as to whom they wish to give their property to.
The CEM also said that if there are siblings who are all females and all are taking care of their parents, it would not be justified for only the youngest to inherit.
“By bringing this bill, we are trying to streamline everything so that there is equitable distribution of property among the children, especially the males,” he added.
Denying sons an inheritance sparks desperation and frustration among them, Chyne said, and they will now be able to possess collateral when they apply for loans.
“The Khasi males feel that in their parents’ house there is no place for them,” he bemoaned.
