A fresh notification issued by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) has triggered confusion and debate after the council announced the “de-identification” of several clans that were earlier recognised under Biate tribe and prolonged settlement categories.
The move has raised questions over what exactly has been cancelled, who will be affected, and whether the decision impacts the constitutional tribal status of the communities involved.
Jowai , May 11: The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) has withdrawn the recognition status of several clans that were earlier included under the Biate tribe category and other clans recognised through prolonged settlement.
In a notification issued on May 11, the Executive Committee of the JHADC stated that it was partially modifying an earlier order issued on April 29, 2026.
The council said the clans listed under Annexure-II of the previous notification are now being “deidentified” with immediate effect and until further orders.
The affected list includes 12 clans under the Biate tribe category, including Chungkngol, Darnei, Durpui, Kungte, Lalsim and others. Another 26 clans earlier recognised as indigenous through prolonged settlement have also been included in the latest order.
The notification, however, has created confusion among many residents and social media users, with some interpreting the move as a cancellation of the Biate tribe itself.
However, the document does not state that the constitutional Scheduled Tribe (ST) status of the Biate community has been removed. Instead, the order appears to relate specifically to recognition status previously granted under a JHADC notification.
This distinction is important because constitutional tribal recognition falls under central laws and cannot be cancelled directly through a district council notification.
The latest order mainly concerns the council’s own recognised list linked to indigenous and prolonged settlement categories within the Jaintia Hills jurisdiction.
The notification has already triggered debate online, especially after local media reports described the move as a cancellation of recognition for the listed clans.
As of now, JHADC has not publicly issued a detailed clarification explaining the exact implications of the latest decision or the reasons behind the sudden reversal.
The Official Notification
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