Shillong, April 22: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday rejected demands to place the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) under administrator’s rule, asserting that only the elected House has the authority to amend rules governing the council.
Clarifying the limitations of an administrator’s role, Tynsong said that even if the government takes over the council, the administrator would not have the power to pass or amend laws related to the AD rules. “An administrator has limitations. Matters related to amendment of rules and regulations can only be taken up and decided by the House inside the district council,” he stated.
He emphasised that the ongoing issue is directly linked to the need for amendments in the AD rules, particularly in the wake of protests over non-tribal participation in council elections. Citing these challenges, Tynsong said the government had no option but to extend the tenure of the GHADC. “Taking these factors into consideration, the government has extended the House for six months so that the matter can be placed before the House, deliberated upon, and necessary amendments can be made,” he said.
The extension follows violent protests over the participation of non-tribals in GHADC elections, which led to demands for postponement of the polls earlier scheduled for April 10. On the issue of a separate electoral roll for GHADC, Tynsong informed that the delimitation committee is currently working on the process. “The delimitation committee is on the job. As per instructions, they have been asked to complete the process within three months,” he added.
