Construction of hongpharla for settling of disputes on the cards
HT Bureau
Related Posts:
DIPHU, Oct 21: The chief executive member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) distributed ‘appointment notification’ letters to the presidents and members of Village Council at the ‘Ceremonial Distribution of appointment notification’ function held at Longmirjeng Achatai, Taralangso here on Friday.
Overall 2,175 appointment notification letters were distributed as per the list prepared by the Legislative department of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.
The appointment of notification letters was given to the traditional village headman as president and members in the Village Council (VC).
The VC is formed with a total of nine members headed by the traditional village headman or mouzadar as president.
The same traditional village headman is also the president in the customary court with two persons as members making a total strength of 3 members in the Co-Customary Court. The two members in the Customary Court are elected by the nine members of the VC.
Chief executive member (CEM) of KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang said both Karbi Customary Law Finalisation Committee and Legislative Department, KAAC have worked for setting–up of VC. By setting up VC, cases relating to customary laws will be settled in the village under the jurisdiction of the village headman, who is the president of the VC and Customary Court.
The CEM said, “The system of settling disputes among the Karbis through customary law was there from before. The Governor of Assam has given consent for the appointment of Presidents and Members of VC. Now the traditional village headman has full authority to settle any dispute. He has the authority to give a verdict and send the offenders to jail as per the customary law.”
Another round of 3,575 appointments of presidents and members of VC will be made by the end of October, the CEM said.
The CEM also announced that the construction of hongpharla- open hall in the courtyard of the village headmen for holding discussion with members and settling of disputes will be done. The VC has been formed and next, Village Development Councils will be set up.
MP Horensing Bey said with the appointment of president of VC, the village headman now has a bigger responsibility to check any disturbances in the village, settle disputes, good governance and protection of the boundary.
The village headmen should follow the customary law while hearing any cases and should be able to control its people.
Earlier, principal secretary of KAAC, Mukul Kumar Saikia in his welcome address said, “On November 18, 1954 as per the provision of sub-paragraph 4 of paragraph 4 of the Sixth Schedule to the constitution under the Mikir Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Justice) Rules 1954 has framed rules for setting up of Village Council, but in this 68 years, the KAAC has not thought of it. It is the present CEM Tuliram Ronghang led Council that has taken the bold step of setting up VC.”
Adviser to the chief executive member (CEM) of KAAC, Elwin Teron said, “The present CEM, Tuliram Ronghang has instructed us to work out for setting up a VC. Accordingly, we did a survey of 3,575 villages which got the Governor’s approval. A gazette notification was made for appointing presidents and members in VC. Out of 3,575 VC, 2,175 presidents have been appointed.”
The chairman of Karbi Customary Law Finalisation Committee, Dr Dharam Sing Teron; MLAs Bidyasing Engleng and Darsing Ronghang and executive members of KAAC and Member of Autonomous Council (MACs) and others attended the function.
