Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will soon lead a delegation of the state including the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) to Delhi for discussion on the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
Sangma assured this to a delegation of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) led by the Chief Executive Member (CEM) Titosstarwell Chyne during a meeting held on Monday. KHADC Leader of Opposition, Pynshngain N Syiem was also present in the meeting. The delegation had sought clarification regarding the word village council in the proposed amendment. Last week, the KHADC had unanimously decided to oppose the state cabinet approval to have village councils in the state.
"He (CM) has given us the assurance that before the amendment is placed in the next session, a meeting will be held in Delhi. The chief minister along with all the ADCs will be leaving for Delhi to have more discussion regarding this matter," Chyne told reporters after the meeting. "We would like to ensure from our side that the word village dorbar should not be removed," he said while asserting that all traditional practices and all traditional institutions should be strengthened as per the new amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
The CEM then informed that the meeting of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) had decided to seek clarity on the view of the state government on the matter.
"The CM has clarified that in the proposed amendment approved by the cabinet, the word village council has also been included with the word village dorbar as applicable. That means in Garo Hills they may accept the word village council but in Khasi Jaintia Hills the word village dorbar is applicable," he said.
Chyne then maintained that in view of this, the question of the village council in Khasi and Jaintia Hills does not arise.
