Guwahati, June 28 -- The Meghalaya High Court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that challenges the state's policy on issuing Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates to Khasi individuals and non-Khasi women marrying Khasi men, particularly concerning their choice of surnames.

Syngkhong Rympei Thymmai, a registered society, filed the PIL through its general secretary, Armour Lyngdoh.

The petition brings into focus the recent changes in the Social Welfare Department's stance on surname adoption and its impact on the issuance of ST certificates.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, acknowledged that the unique matriarchal structure of Khasi society deeply roots itself in c...