Garo Hills Autonomous District Council bars non-tribals from contesting elections after seven decades.
The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Meghalaya approved an amendment mandating that only Scheduled Tribe members can contest its polls. This decision effectively ends over seven decades of non-tribal participation in GHADC elections and follows weeks of unrest and ethnic tensions, which included protests where two people died. The State government had deferred the April 10 elections and extended the council's tenure to allow for these rule amendments. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma hailed the resolution as a "historic milestone," emphasizing its role in safeguarding the rights and self-governance of tribal communities under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Key Points
- The GHADC in Meghalaya amended its rules to restrict election candidacy exclusively to Scheduled Tribe members.
- This change ends non-tribal participation in council elections, a practice that had existed for over seven decades.
- The decision comes after weeks of ethnic tensions and protests, resulting in two deaths.
- Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma lauded the resolution as a "historic milestone" for tribal self-governance.
- The GHADC operates under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, designed to safeguard tribal rights.
Exam Facts
- Council: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
- State: Meghalaya.
- Constitutional provision: Sixth Schedule.
- Chief Minister: Conrad K. Sangma.
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