‘HSPDP to ensure 28 Himas to have their own Acts’
Shillong, Jan 28: First time candidate for ADC election Starfing Pdahkasiej, a senior journalist, is opposed to registration of any Khasi clan under the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Social Custom of Lineage) (Amendment) Act, 2023.
“We cannot register a clan… If we register, we compromise..,” Pdahkasiej, the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) candidate for Mawsynram constituency, told reporters after filing his nomination papers at DC’s office here on Tuesday.
If brought to power, HSPDP will amend the Act to ensure that registration of tribal clan is done away with, said Pdahkasiej, who had unsuccessfully contested assembly elections in the past.
“The party feels there is no need to register the clans, but the clans can only introduce themselves to the district council in order to know how many clans there are under its jurisdiction,” he explained.
Although he welcomed recognition to clans under the Act, the HSPDP candidate lamented inclusion of “registration” in it.
“If you recall when they had introduced this Bill in KHADC, UDP and HSPDP had opposed the use of the word ‘registration’ but the EC led by NPP and supported by Congress went ahead and passed this,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the HSPDP would also ensure that 28 Himas of which six are in Mawsynram have their own Acts.
“I have decided to contest the election to ensure Himas have their own Acts. There are 54 Himas of which only 22 have codified their customary laws and now have their own Acts, four are awaiting the Governor’s assent, and 28 are yet to have their own Acts,” he said.
Six Himas without own Acts under Mawsynram constituency are: Nongshluit Sirdarship, Sinai Sirdarship, Synnei Sirdarship, Mawsynram Syiemship and Malai-Sohmat Syiemship, according to the HSPDP candidate.
“If elected, I assure to work with all the six Himas to ensure they have their own Acts,” he added.
