Shillong, Aug 28: A Consultative Committee of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has decided to suggest the Executive Committee to get the Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council involved in examining the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

The 17-member Consultative Committee headed by former CEM, Manstudy Nongrem was constituted by the KHADC to make recommendations after an in-depth study of the provisions of the principal act – KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1977.

Earlier based on the request of the KHADC, the state government had returned the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Amendment Bill for fine-tuning it.

The Amendment Bill seeks to strip off the Schedule Tribe status if Khasi women marry non-Khasi men and their offsprings.

Nongrem, the Chairman of the Consultative Committee told reporters after its first meeting on Tuesday that the committee has decided to suggest the EC to urge the JHADC to participate since the Bill seeks to deal with the issue relating to the Khasis.

He was referring to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 which clearly defines that the Khasis includes the Kynriam, Pnar (Jaiñtias), War, Bhoi and Lyngngam.

“Before starting with the process of examining the Bill, we want that this committee should also include members from JHADC. We leave it to the KHADC chief executive member to communicate to his counterpart,” Nongrem said.

Nongrem said that the committee would examine and make necessary corrections before taking views and suggestions from stakeholders.

The terms of reference as mentioned in the order issued by the Executive Committee on August 10 stated that the Consultative Committee has been asked to make an in-depth study of the provisions of the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997.

The committee will also consult experts if required including traditional heads, social and women organizations.