The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has said that the Chief Minister does not have the authority to allot the status of headman to anyone.
KHNAM working president Thomas Passah said this in reaction to news reports that the All Ri-Bhoi Garo Headmen Association met the CM demanding the status of headman. Although there is a substantial Garo community in parts of Ri-Bhoi, especially on the border with Assam, the land falls under the jurisdiction of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and it and pressure group have opposed usurpation of headman status by Garos.
“It needs to be mentioned that the CM does not have the authority to allot the status of headman to anyone, as it is the sole responsibility of Hima Mylliem and the KHADC,” Passah said in a statement issued here.
KHNAM said that the KHADC’s Appointment and Succession of Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Electors and Rangbah Shnong of Mylliem Syiemship Act 2007 clearly states that the headman should be only from the Khasi tribe and the authorities concerned should uphold the provision of law available and right away discard such demands.
