Shillong,Nov 29: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has asked the government to withdraw a letter issued by a social welfare department official against matrilineal surnames by misinterpreting the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997.
The HYC met social welfare minister Paul Lyngdoh in this regard.
HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem told the minister, “We request you to kindly issue necessary direction for an immediate withdrawal of the letter under reference.”
He said the letter of the social welfare department had stated, “Further, it maybe stated that the Lineage Act, 1997 does not prohibit the issuance of ST certificates to the applicant adopting the surnames of either from the father or mother and the practice of adopting husband surnames by non-khasi wife was also allowed”.
The HYC had written to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), seeking explanation as to whether the law made by the KHADC known as the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997 allows such a practice of issuance of ST.
“That, based on our complaint the Registration Authority, KHADC, Shillong vides Letter No. DC.II/RA/24/2023/2 dated Shillong, the 8th May, 2023 had written to the Under Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Social Welfare Department, providing necessary clarifications on the matter and urging the concerned Authority(s) not to issue any ST certificates in contravention of the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997 and the Rules made framed thereunder,”the HYC said.
Synrem said the letter from the Under Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Social Welfare Department, is highly illegal and goes against the customary practices and in contradiction to the prevailing law that is the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997 and the Rules framed thereunder. “Hence, immediate withdrawal of the same is warranted,” the HYC said.
