The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has constituted an Elaka Affairs Committee to work out the modalities for obtaining the opinion of all stakeholders to ensure that the present practice of excluding women’s participation from election of headmen and traditional heads could be changed by consensus.
The KHADC informed this during a hearing in the Meghalaya High Court today on the writ petition filed by Aneeta Synrem.
Synrem, who is a lawyer, had moved the court in 2018 after she was prevented from taking part in the election of Rangbah Shnong, Pynthorumkhrah.
During today’s hearing, the KHADC sought further time so that the discussions may be facilitated and an appropriate decision is arrived at.
“Let the petition stand over for ten weeks, for the moment,” the division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh ordered while listing the matter for another hearing on July 28.
It may be noted that Synrem in the writ petition had challenged the vires of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (Appointment and Succession of Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Electors and Rangbah Shnong of Mylliem Syiemship) Act, 2007 and the Administration of Mylliem Syiemship Rules, 2015 which prohibit both the participation of women in the electoral process and women contesting for the post of Rangbah Shnong.
