KHADC passes Land Bill to protect land tenure system in tribal areas

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 10, 2021

The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council on Wednesday passed the modified KHAD (Regulation and Administration of Land) Bill, 2021 which seeks to protect and conserve the land tenure system prevailing in the tribal areas of Khasi Hills.  

This was after the House has approved the report of the Select Committee tabled by the KHADC chief Titosstar Well Chyne.

The Bill was referred to the Select Committee on March 3, earlier this year.

Chyne said that the Select Committee has made necessary modification in the said Bill after careful consideration of the views and comments and also the opinion of the legal adviser and the two special secretaries.

“Hence, under Rule 83 of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951 as amended, a modified “The KHAD (Regulation and Administration of Land) Bill, 2021” is hereby placed again before the council in session for consideration of the Bill in its present form,” he said.

He informed that the views and comments received from some MDCs and so also the view received from several traditional heads were examined in-depth.

“The committee has after examination of the views and comments received felt that the existing custom and practices of land documents/records issued by traditional heads viz, dorbar hima, dorbar raid and dorbar shnong should be taken into consideration in this Bill so as to improve and strengthen such prevailing practices,” Chyne said.

The Select Committee (which) met several times after examination and deliberation decided that the suggestions and views which were considered necessary deemed it advisable to incorporate them in the Bill to provide strong provisions to safeguard and strengthen customary practices and also to regulate existing land tenure system prevailing in the dorbar hima, dorbar raid and dorbar shnong,” he added.