18 | Khasi Hill States

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The Khasi Hill States, located in the northeast of India, were a tribal area, consisting of twenty-five states. Some notable states included - Bhawal, Cherra, Khyrim, Langrin, Maharam, Malaisohmat, Mylliem (also referred to as Mylhem), Lyniong, Shella Confederacy, Mawlong, Nonglwaa, Bahusanugut, Hdawdon, Dwara Nongtynmen. Their chiefs, known as Siems, were generally elected by the people. A good number of them were Christians. Before India's independence, the Crown Representative managed relations with these states through the Governor of Assam. The administration of the Hill States was largely assimilated to that of the Assam Province, partly by applying British Indian laws under the Foreign Jurisdiction Order in Council and partly through administrative measures agreed upon with the Khasi Chiefs (Menon, 1956).

Unlike the majority of other princely states, the Khasi Hill States did not accede to India on 15 August 1947. The existing practice, where the Governor of Assam administered these areas on behalf of the Government of India, continued after independence. When their future under the new Constitution was discussed, the people in these states expressed a strong desire to preserve their traditions and maintain their autonomy. They were notably opposed to the idea of an outright merger with Assam. To address these concerns, the Khasi Hill States, which had formed their own federation, executed an Agreement to keep existing administrative arrangements with the Dominion of India and the province of Assam in force, with certain exceptions (Menon, 1956; White Paper, 1950).

The Siems (chiefs) of Khasi states then individually and collectively signed the instrument of accession. This instrument empowered the Dominion Legislature to make laws for the Khasi Hill states in respect of any matter. It was signed between late 1947 and early 1948 and was accepted by the Governor-General on August 17, 1948. As a part of Instrument of Accession, the Siems (chiefs) also signed The Annexed Agreement which stipulated that all existing administrative arrangements between the Dominion of India and the Province of Assam on one hand, and the Khasi States on the other, would continue in force, with certain exceptions, until new or modified arrangements were made (Menon, 1956; White Paper, 1950).

This separate agreement was meant to safeguard their autonomy and traditional customs, under which the Federation of Khasi states agreed to establish a competent Court of the Federation. This court would exercise judicial functions previously vested in the Political Officer. Existing judicial arrangements for non-Khasis would continue, with the Political Officer's powers transferring to the Federation Court once its competence was recognized. The Federation was to be given full authority regarding the management and control of forests. The agreement covered land and water rights and the revenue derived therefrom. The Federation requested assistance to facilitate the unification of all Khasi territory (Menon, 1956; White Paper, 1950).

Constitutionally, the position of the Khasi Hill States Federation approximated that of a Chief Commissioner's Province. Consequently, the Khasi States, along with the adjacent Jaintia Hill District, were included in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, forming a separate autonomous district known as the United Khasi-Jaintia Hill District. This Schedule granted a significant measure of local autonomy to District Councils in these tribal areas. This ‘special regime’ distinguished them from other princely states which either were merged with provinces or formed larger unions (White Paper, 1950).

References:

• Menon, V. P. (1956). The Story of Integration of the Indian states. Orient Blackswan.

  
  

• Ministry of States. (1950). White Paper on Indian States. Government of India. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/White_Paper_on_Indian_States_(1950)