Opposition MDCs, led by Opposition Leader Titostarwell Chyne and Laban-Mawprem MDC Ricky Shullai, strongly criticised the Executive Member (EM) in charge of the Law and Legal Department over her response to a question raised by Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah during the KHADC Budget Session.
Replying during the Question Hour on the third day of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council’s Budget Session on June 19, 2026, the EM stated that courts levy court fees on suits and cases in accordance with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Court Fees Rules (Meghalaya Amendment) Act, 1993.
She further informed the House that stamp fees and court fees are charged according to a prescribed rate structure, with cases involving amounts up to Rs 1 lakh attracting a 2 per cent fee, while higher amounts are subject to a 3 per cent fee.
Nongpoh MDC Rona Khymdeit also participated in the discussion and sought clarification on the legal provision under which the Court Fee/Stamp Fee had been imposed. In response, the EM stated that an Executive Order issued in 2024 was in force and that the fees were being collected in accordance with that order.
Dissatisfied with the explanation, Opposition Leader Titostarwell Chyne questioned whether the Executive Order should override established legal provisions. He further sought clarification on the specific provision of the Sixth Schedule under which the Stamp Fee and Court Fee were being implemented, especially after the EM claimed that the fees were being enforced under the Sixth Schedule.
Responding to the criticism, the EM maintained that the Executive Committee was merely implementing the 2024 Executive Order.
However, Ricky Shullai challenged the justification, arguing that it was inappropriate to rely solely on an Executive Order without clearly citing the legal provisions empowering the Council to impose such fees. The exchange led to a heated debate in the House over the legality and basis of the Court Fee and Stamp Fee collection mechanism.
