Shillong: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council just stripped traditional institutions of their power to oversee land ceiling decisions. During its Summer Session, the Council passed an amendment to the 2026 Land Act that removes Section 16. This change ends the requirement for the Executive Committee to consult the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid, and Dorbar Hima before acting.
Titosstarwell Chyne, the Leader of the Opposition, slammed the move. He argues it undermines the roots of local governance. Chyne warned that the Executive Committee already bypassed protocols before the law even passed. "Consultation should not be removed," Chyne said.
Executive Member Powell Sohkhlet pushed back. He claimed the old system triggered endless deadlocks while communal Raid lands vanished. Sohkhlet says stripping this consultative role is the only way to enforce land ceilings effectively.
The bill also drags land records into the digital age. It mandates QR code authentication and GIS mapping. The Council plans to hire a Land Recording Officer to run this tech. While Chyne supports the digital shift, he questions why the Council is baking these administrative tasks directly into the law.
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