Shillong, Aug 6: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has urged the state government to seek clarification from the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) on its recent decision to oppose the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018 and joined other groups in submitting a petition to the Governor, Ganga Prasad.

“We have submitted a letter to the chief minister Conrad K Sangma requesting the government to enquire into the recent decision taken by the MSCW and take action accordingly,” KHADC chief Hispreaching Son Shylla told reporters after the executive meeting held here on Monday.

He said that the executive committee of the KHADC was shocked to know that the MSCW chairperson Theilin Phanbuh was one among the signatories of a petition demanding the Governor not to give his assent to the Bill.

“It is something which is not acceptable and not expected of a Commission to act like a social organization,” Shylla said while pointing out that the other signatories of the petition comprising mainly of women organizations.

Further, the KHADC chief said that the Commission instead of taking sides should have been neutral. “It should have listened to both those who are against and for the Bill since it is a body which is mandated by law,” he asserted.

Alleging that the chairperson of the MSCW had taken this decision for her own personal benefit, Shylla said that it is the duty of the chairperson to take the views of both pro and anti-Bill groups before arriving at any decision on the matter.