KHADC chief, Pyniad Sing Syiem has said that the district council does not recognise any self-style non-Khasi headman from the Refugee Rehabilitation (RR) Colony in Rynjah.
Syiem said the KHADC will also not recognise any documents or No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the RR Colony Social Welfare Society for renewal of the trading licenses within its jurisdiction.
Talking to reporters after the meeting with the members of the dorbar shnong Rynjah, Syiem referred to a notification of the Hima Mylliem dated February 1, 2019, which declared the colony as “Them Rynjah” and approved by the district council. He said only certificates issued by the dorbar shnong is recognised and not by any society.
“There are records of the non-tribals from the colony that have gone and obtain such certificates from the Rangbah Shnong of the Dorbar Shnong Rynjah but we have not come across such NOC or certificates that have been issued by the president or secretary of the society at Rynjah after the notification 2019.
He said residents of Them Rynjah should follow the rules and customary practice as empowered under the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills Appointment and succession of Chief and Headmen Act 1959 and violation of the notification will attract punishment as per law.
He also reminded that under the Hima Mylliem Act, 2007 non-Khasi cannot be elected as rangbah shnong or claim to be one.
Meanwhile the representatives from the Rynjah dorbar said they are not against the functioning of any registered society, but they will not allow it to bypass the job of the dorbar.
It may be mentioned that the issue emerged after the Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) Nongthymmai circle discovered that the society had issued No Objection Certificates to renew trading licenses of shopkeepers within their jurisdiction.
The pressure group was told that a resolution was adopted in the meeting of traders of RR Colony held on February 16, 2007 signed by the then KHADC in charge of trade, Sanbor Shullai wherein three localities would have separate identities and jurisdictions.
BJP MLA, AL Hek was also named in the resolution as he stated that the people of the colony have the right to self-governance as has been since the inspection of the locality.
Meanwhile, KHNAM leader Thomas Passah has said that the KHADC should seek a clarification from Shullai and Hek and the dorbar shnong to remove all signage of RR Colony and replace it with the name as referred in 2019 notification of the Hima Mylliem.
