State Social Welfare Minister, Paul Lyngdoh today informed that he has sought for the file issued by the Government of Meghalaya, which stated that the KHADC Lineage Act, 1997 does not prohibit the issuance of scheduled tribe (ST) certificates to the applicant adopting the surnames of either from the father or mother and the practice of adopting husband surname by non-Khasi wife was also allowed.
The notification was issued on July 21, 2020 by the Under Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Social Welfare Department.
“It is strange that such a notification has been issued because in the process of legislation once a bill has been passed by the council and has got the assent of the Governor it means that it has gone through the process of being scrutinised by the State government and no notification should ever be in a position to dilute any piece of legislation especially an act which has got the assent of the Governor of the State,” Lyngdoh said.
The Social Welfare Minister said that since he has called for the relevant file he will go through the details accordingly.
Earlier this week, the HYC had met Lyngdoh and submitted to him a representation, urging the State government to issue necessary directions for an immediate withdrawal of the notification.
The HYC had stated that in response to the notification, it had written to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) seeking explanation as to whether the law made by the district council known as the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997 allows such a practice of issuance of ST certificate.
Further, the HYC stated that based on its complaint, the Registration Authority of KHADC vide Letter No. DC.II/RA/24/2023/2 dated Shillong, the 8th May, 2023 had written to the Under Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Social Welfare Department, providing necessary clarifications on the matter and urging the concerned authority not to issue any ST certificate in contravention of the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997and the Rules framed under the act.
The HYC said that the notification from the Under Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Social Welfare Department is highly illegal and goes against the customary practices and in contradiction to the prevailing law that is the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997 and the Rules made framed thereunder.
