Shillong Nov 13: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will bring out a legislation that seeks to make it mandatory that all Khasi clans within its jurisdiction should register with the Council, and asked various clans to submit their views and suggestions on the proposed draft KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Clan Administration) Bill, 2018 in the next five days.

KHADC chief Hispreaching Son Shylla told reporters on Tuesday that the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Clan Administration) Bill, 2018 if possible, will be introduced in the upcoming three-day Winter Session of the Council to be held from November 20 to 22.

The Bill seeks to make it mandatory for all tribal clans in the Khasi Hills region to register with the district council. There are more than 4,000 plus tribal clans in the region.

Shylla said that clans have suggested that the Bill should only look into the aspect of registration without interfering into their function.

The draft Bill will be circulated to all clans for their views and suggestions and they were requested to submit the same within November 18.

On the role of Clans when it comes to issuing of Khasi clan certificate, Shylla said, “The Seng Kur (clan organization) or the Clan elder will be the authority to issue such certificate. However, they (clans) cannot issue the clan certificate if they are not registered with the KHADC.”

According to Shylla, when this Bill becomes an Act, it is mandatory for applicants to produce the Khasi clan certificate for obtaining the Khasi Tribe certificate from the KHADC.

The Khasi Tribe Certificate is one of the important documents for obtaining the Schedule Tribe certificate issued from the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

On apprehensions with regard to the online system of accepting such applications, Shylla said, “It was clarified by the office of the DC that Khasi Tribe Certificate is an important document to obtain the ST certificate. If it is not happening like, that then we will surely write to the state government on this matter.”

Shylla also urged all clans to come forward and register with the KHADC to avoid any problem in the future.

The KHADC chief informed that the meeting has further resolved not to accept those who are taking their father’s clan (title) and those who anglicized the spelling of their clans like in the case of ‘Suting’ changing the spelling to ‘Suttinck’, ‘Khaiñ’ to ‘Chyne’, ‘Khongwir’ to ‘Conville’ and many others.