Shillong: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council moved to break a legislative stalemate on Wednesday by reconstituting a select committee tasked with reviewing the controversial Khasi Inheritance of Property Bill. The proposed legislation, first introduced in 2021, seeks to fundamentally alter how ancestral wealth is distributed among children.
The reform challenges the traditional Khasi custom that designates the youngest daughter, known as the Khadduh, as the primary custodian of family assets. Instead, the bill advocates for a more equitable distribution model, representing a significant shift in local social structures. Progress on the bill had stalled for three years following the resignation of the former committee chair, Shemborlang Rynjah.
Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh will now lead the panel. During the opening of the Council’s Summer Session, Lyngdoh explained that the committee had been “rendered inoperative” after Rynjah’s departure, requiring a formal restart of the evaluation process. The new committee also includes Titosstarwell Chyne, Deity M Majaw, Grace Mary Kharpuri, and Denzil R Chen. This group is responsible for refining the bill's provisions and preparing final recommendations for the Council.
Comments