The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), on November 29, urged the government to immediately withdraw a letter issued by an officer of the social welfare department for misinterpreting the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with the Social welfare minister Paul Lyngdoh, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said, “We request you to kindly issue necessary direction for an immediate withdrawal of the Letter under reference.”
He said the letter of the social welfare department had stated, “Further, it maybe stated that the Lineage Act, 1997 does not prohibit the issuance of ST certificates to the applicant adopting the surnames of either from the father or mother and the practice of adopting husband surnames by non-khasi wife was also allowed”.
“(The HYC) had written to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Shillong, seeking explanation as to whether the law made by the KHADC known as the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997 allows such a practice of issuance of ST. That, based on our complaint the Registration Authority, KHADC, Shillong vides 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 Concern Authority(s) not to issue any ST Certificates in contravention of the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997and the Rules made framed thereunder,” Synrem said while adding “The above-referred Letter 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. Hence, immediate withdrawal of the same is warranted.”