Shillong: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council is scrambling. Facing a revolt from clan elders, the Council signaled a retreat on its 2026 Land Amendment Bill. Leadership promised to revisit the legislation just hours before a major protest convention in Shillong.
Powell Sohkhlet, the Executive Member for Land, claims the Council wants to listen. The bill sits with the District Council Affairs Department for approval right now. Sohkhlet insists the Council is ready to fix the text. "We are open to revisit the amendment bill and incorporate provisions that are in accordance with the need of the time," he told reporters.
Critics call out a massive red flag. The bill deletes the requirement for consultation. Opponents say this lets the Council bypass traditional institutions like the Hima and Raid. Sohkhlet brushed this off as a simple misunderstanding. He claimed the Council has no desire to weaken the Dorbar Shnong or other local bodies.
The Council insists the bill is meant to help the poor. They want to set up land banks so landless families can get housing aid. Many families currently lose out on federal schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana because they do not own property. Despite this pitch, officials admitted that previous meetings with local leaders failed to reach a deal on land ceilings.
The Synjuk Ki Rangbah Kur Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep is not buying it. The federation of clan elders argues the bill violates the Sixth Schedule and strips away customary protections. They plan to meet on July 7 to decide their next move against the Council.
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