SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) today warned that Khasi individuals who violate the Lineage Act risk losing their Khasi community status.
Responding during the first day of the KHADC’s summer session, Executive Member in-charge of Legal Affairs, Deity H. Majaw answered queries raised by NPP MDC Grace Kharpuri of Nongshken and Opposition Leader Titosstarwell Chyne, stating that persons who violate the provisions of the Khasi Lineage Act stand to be deprived of their Khasi community status.
Kharpuri sought details on the action taken against those who do not adopt their mother’s surname under the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (Lineage) Act, 1997, as amended, while Chyne sought clarification on whether the Act strengthens the practice of adopting the mother’s surname.
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Majaw said the Act, read together with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 2007, clearly stipulates under Section 10 that violations are punishable.
“Those who violate the Act will be deprived of their Khasi community status. Those who renounce their Khasi community identity will be removed from Khasi status,” she told the House.
The Executive Member added that if both parents are Khasi, their offspring will also remain Khasi. She also affirmed that the Act strengthens the custom of adopting the mother’s surname.
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