The Meghalaya High Court today said that it would be an aberration that only by reason of her gender a woman is not allowed to contest or vote in the election of a Rangbah Shnong.
The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh was hearing a writ petition filed by Aneeta Synrem, a resident of Pynthorumkhrah here.
“With educational facilities having increased and the aspiration level rising, particularly since a matrilineal system is followed and, by and large, women are treated with great respect in the society, it may appear to be somewhat of an aberration that only by reason of her gender a woman may not participate in the process of deciding who would govern her in the immediate locality,” the High Court observed.
Stating that it would be better that the elementary equality for both men and women to participate in election of a Rangbah Shnong comes out of consensus “rather by dint of a judicial diktat”, the High Court said even the third gender and persons with different sexual and identity orientations are now recognised universally and also in this country.
During the hearing, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) informed the High Court that there are several villages where on the request of the village or locality women do take part in the Dorbar in the process of election.
The Syiem of Mylliem also confirmed the same and suggested that a request in such a matter should come from the Pynthorumkhrah village.
On this the High Court suggested to both the KHADC and the Syiem of Mylliem “to initiate discussions and try to persuade the residents of the other villages which have not opened the system to women to be more forward thinking and embrace gender equality in the sense that the Constitution of the country requires it”.
The High Court also expressed pleasure that both the KHADC and the Syiem of Mylliem are open to the court’s suggestion to initiate discussion on the matter to ascertain whether the equal right being granted to women in the process of electing the local administration or headman finds favour across the board.
“It is hoped that by the time the matter appears next eight weeks hence, the KHADC and the Syiem of Mylliem will have something positive to report for the court not to be required to adjudicate the issue raised,” the High Court said while fixing December 13 as the next date of hearing of the matter.
