SHILLONG, MAR 31: For the fourth consecutive time, the union government has directed the Meghalaya government to take appropriate action with regards to the settlement of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement, entered into with the 25 Khasi States.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently has again asked the state chief secretary PBO Warjri to take appropriate action on the petition with intimation to the MHA, on the settlement of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement, entered into with the 25 Khasi States,” Grand Council of Chiefs Meghalaya (GCCM) chairman John F Kharshiing said in a statement on Tuesday.
The MHA has sent its letter to the chief secretary on March 26, following a petition submitted by GCCM through the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website (Public Grievances) on the non-fulfillment of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17 August 1948, on July last year.
Kharshiing informed that the MHA has earlier sent four memos addressed to chief secretary, during 2012 -2014 (on 18 July 2012, 22 Sept 2014, 14 October 2014, 27th November 2014) to the state government.
The union government is awaiting the response from the state government, on the issues of the Federation of Khasi States and the IOA, Kharshiing said.
“We look forward to the state government initiative to clarify the constitutional anomaly that exist as the terms of the treaty are yet to be given necessary and mandatory effect,” the GCCM chairman said in a letter to the chief secretary.
Kharshiing said, the non-inclusion of the IOA and AA has caused a ‘CONSTITUTIONAL ANOMALY’ within the Constitution of India, as the terms of the Instrument of Accession and the Annexed Agreement do not find a mention within in the Constitution of India.
According to Kharshiing, in accordance with section 7 of the Indian Independence Act, 1047, the Government of India accepted and signed the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement, (IOA & AA), with the Federation of Khasi States on 17 august 1948.
The 25 Khasi states refused and did not sign the Instrument of Merger as done by all the princely states of India(over 500 in number) and therefore retained their unique status and place within the Constitution of India.
Thereafter the Federation of Khasi States, in addition to the Rulers/chiefs of the Khasi States, the respective Hima/Kingdoms conducted elections to elect their representatives during the period of 1948 and 1949 and constituted the Khasi States Constitution Making Durbar,(KSCMD) with a total of 86 members representing their various Hima(s). ( Mylliem State 11, Khyrim 12, Nongkhlaw 4, Maharam 4, Cherra State 3, and others 1 representative each in addition to the Ruler/Chief) There were four Khasi male members Rai Bahadur D. Ropmay, Dr H Lyngdoh, Rev. JJM Nichols Roy and Prof RR Thomas who were nominated by the KSCMD and four women B Khongmen, B Taylor, L Shullai, and Miss Mavis Dunn, were nominated by the Governor.
The Khasi States Constitution Making Durbar (KSCMD) was inaugurated by the then Governor of Assam Sri Prakasa. on 29th April 1949 at Dinam Hall, Shillong.
The KSCMD passed Legislation, Resolutions, framed rules, and other matters connected with the formalization of the legislative body and unification of all Khasi territory within the United Khasi & Jaintia Hills District Council with the Khasi states.- By Our Reporter
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