Twenty-five independent Khasi tribal states signed the accession and annexed agreement on August 17, 1947, with the then Governor of Assam A Hydari as government representative.
Through the agreement, the independent states have only "acceded" to the Dominion of India but have not signed "mergers", J F Kharshiing, chairman Grand Council of Chiefs, said at a solemn function attended by the chiefs from all over Khasi Jainta Hills.
However, because of the non-inclusion of this agreement by incorporating it in the Constitution, complication has arisen in various aspects in the customary laws in the Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya, he said.
Taking interest in the welfare of the tribals in Meghalaya, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes had directed the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to look into the commitments made by the government to the tribal independent rulers in Meghalaya as per the instrument of accession and annexed agreement to avoid constitutional "anomaly".
The spokesperson of the Khasi states had told the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes that a "constitutional anomaly" has adversely affected the customary rights of land, forest, water, revenue and mineral resources of the tribals in Meghalaya.
With the state coming within the ambit of the 6th Schedule to the Constitution, Meghalaya does not have a Panchayati system. The traditional bodies function like the panchayats in the state.
The tribal chiefs said the nuances of traditional Khasi democracy should be given due cognisance and the traditional heads and grassroot organisations like the Dorbar and Rangbah Shnong should be given their due rights.
