Our Correspondent
Diphu, Sep. 26 (EMN): A two-day workshop on Karbi customary jurisprudence was held at the conference hall of the new Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Secretariat building in Diphu on Monday.
The workshop was organised by the Karbi Customary Law Finalisation Committee (KCLFC) in collaboration with the Legislative Department, KAAC.
Participants including Karbi lawyers, advocates, Karbi customary law experts and Karbi traditional chiefs discussed the Mikir Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Justice) rules 1954 and also discussed various amendments to be implemented.
On the first day, the Chief Executive Member (CEM), KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang inaugurated the workshop. He said that the KAAC is giving more importance to the setting up of the Traditional Village Council (TVC), where the Karbi customary laws can be practiced.
He said, though the Karbi customary laws have been made, it is yet to be implemented.
The CEM said that once the customary laws are finalised, it will be practiced in all Karbi villages.
The CEM had announced the setting up of 3,695 Traditional Village Councils (TVC) in both Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong where the village headmen will be the president of TVC and the appointment of presidents of TVC in several villages has already been made by the KAAC.
Adviser, KCLFC, Elwin Teron in his introductory speech spoke about the practices of customary laws in Karbi society where he stressed on the proper understanding of the Karbi customary laws.
Several topics were discussed on customary laws during this two days workshop.
On the concluding day, Advocate Dhonison Lekthe gave his presentation on ‘Award of penalty,’ ‘Procedure of execution,’ ‘Procedure of requisition’ and record keeping, while Advocate, Mickey Teron gave his presentation on ‘Case referral to a higher court.’
Former Karbi traditional king, Harsing Ronghang also spoke on the Karbi customary legal practices in Rongkhang region, while Lunse Timung, a Karbi customary law expert spoke on the Karbi customary legal practices in jiroi region.
Chairman, KCLFC, Dhoromsing Teron said that the workshop was organised to discuss the Mikir Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Justice) rules 1954, and practices of Karbi customary laws in various cultural regions namely Rongkhang, Amri, Chinthong and Bhoi Memri inhabited by Karbi tribes.
In the workshop ‘A guide book of Karbi Customary Jurisprudence’ was also distributed to all the attendees.
As an outcome of the workshop, a Karbi Customary Jurisprudence Drafting Committee (KCJDC) was formed with Advocate, Sarthe Ronghi as chairman and Khorsing Teron, Lunse Timung, Dhonison Lekthe and Mickey Teron as members.
Ronghi said that the committee will prepare the final book of Karbi Customary Jurisprudence while informing that under the TVC, the Customary Court will be a component in it.
The KAAC had already finalised on setting up of Customary Courts by October end.
Lawyers and advocates will train every village headman, who will be the president in the Karbi customary courts and its members for better practices of the customary laws.