SHILLONG, JUNE 8: Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Monday said the failure of the rectified KHAD (Village Administration) Bill 2015 to specify who is eligible to get the residential certificates will only pose a serious threat to indigenous community.
“This failure will only give chance to any outsiders to challenge in the court of law if he is denied a residential certificate, which will only drag a Rangbah Shnong to unwanted controversy,” HYC central body president Peter Lawai told reporters at a news conference on Monday.
He was referring to the deletion of Section 5 sub sections 8 and 16 from the original VAB, while opposing the hasty passing of the rectified VAB.
“The KHADC while making the corrections have deleted the words in sub section 8 of Section 5 which states – non Khasi of India who have been residing within the village/locality for a period of not less than 14 years preceding the date of application of such non Khasi citizens and such certificate shall be granted subject to prior approval from the chief and his Dorbar and the District Council and on such pre-requisites as may be prescribed from time to time by the Executive Committee by way of notification,” he said.
He said, “Instead this was substituted only by the words ‘inhabitants of the village’ without any specification who are eligible to obtain a residential certificate.”
The HYC has also accused the Congress led People Democratic Front (PDF) in the KHADC for being pro-outsiders by deciding to remove the important clauses from the original VAB.
“The rectified VAB passed by the PDF seems to give priority to the outsiders rather than the interest of the indigenous people. We condemned the PDF for this irresponsible attitude towards our indigenous community,” HYC general secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin said.
He said if the claim by the KHADC and state government that sub section 16 of Section 5 conflict with the fundamental rights, then they should also know that Article 19 of the Constitution also states that both state government and district council can also come up with laws to protect the interest of its people and regulate the entry of outsiders.
According to him, this matter can only be defined by court of law and not the State government and the district council.
Alleging that PDF while passing the rectified VAB has also failed to take the views of all stakeholders (political parties, NGOs & traditional chiefs) on board, Kharjahrin said, “The rectified bill in totality cannot serve the purpose of protecting the indigenous community.”
Therefore, he said, “We demanded the KHADC should take this responsibility to ensure that these two deleted clauses should be immediately re-inserted in the VAB.”
Pointing out that rectified VAB is full of flaws, Lawai said, “We also remind the KHADC that VAB is not only for issuing certificates but it should be able to protect and safeguard the rights and interest of the indigenous community and its people.”
“For us, the original VAB is far better than the rectified VAB,” he added.
When asked about their strategy since the VAB is expected to get the Governor’s assent very soon, Kharjahrin said, “The organization will sit and decide on its future course of action on the matter.” He also said soon the HYC would also petition to the Governor V Shanmuganathan urging to keep his assent in abeyance due to public resentment against the rectified bill.- By Our Reporter
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