Shillong, July 24 -- The Meghalaya High Court has issued a notice to the Advocate General after a public interest litigation (PIL) challenged certain provisions of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997.

The PIL contests the restrictions on issuing Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates to individuals who choose to use their father's or husband's surname.

The petition was filed by Syngkhong Rympei Thymmai (SRT), a group advocating for reform in the state's matrilineal social structure. The Khasi community traditionally follows a matrilineal system, where lineage and inheritance are traced through the mother.

The group argues that the current law discriminates against individuals seeking to identify wi...