Shillong July 30: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said that the state government will submit its views to the office of the Governor, Ganga Prasad if he wanted views of the state government on the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Second amendment) Bill, 2018 which was passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

Tynsong told reporters on Monday that he would not like to comment on the bill since he has not studied it, if the Governor wanted the state government’s views, the same would be submitted to the office of the Governor.

Meanwhile some women groups also submitted a petition to the Governor urging him not to give his assent to the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Second amendment) Bill, 2018.

They alleged that the amendment bill sought to “ostracize” Khasi women who marry non-Khasi men.

“The proposed amendment clearly seeks to excommunicate and ostracise a Khasi woman who marries a non-Khasi and her children, in contravention to our customary practices, human rights law and our Constitution,” they said.

Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) chairperson, Theilin Phanbuh, State Commission for Protection of Child’s Rights (SCPCR) chairperson, Meena Kharkongor were among the signatories of the memorandum submitted to the governor on Monday.

The others include Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO), Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR), North East Network (NEN), Faith Foundation, Ka Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei (KLKSK) and Patricia Mukhim, the editor of The Shillong Times.

The KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Second amendment) Bill, 2018 which was passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) during its summer session on July 25 said, “Any Khasi woman who marries a Non-Khasi as well as her offspring(s) born out of such marriage(s) shall be deemed as Non-Khasi who shall lose the Khasi status and all privileges and benefits as a member of the Khasi Tribe who cannot claim preferential privileges under any law.”

The women groups also alleged that the Bill sought to recast the Khasi Matrilineal practise by seeking to strip a Khasi woman and her children of their Khasi and Scheduled Tribe status.

“This Bill is bad in law because it violates Article 14, 19, 21 of the Constitution of India which embodies the right to equality and right to freedom of choice and expression,” the women groups told the Governor.