Shillong, June 21: Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak has expressed serious concern over the reported removal of the term “Autonomous” from the receipts and logo of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), urging the current Executive Committee to immediately restore the council’s official constitutional designation.
In a statement, Marak alleged that the omission is part of a continuing trend by successive Executive Committees, which have allegedly used shortened names such as Garo Hills District Council (GHDC) and Garo District Council (GDC) instead of the officially recognized Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
According to Marak, the practice undermines the authority and autonomous status of the council as provided under the Constitution. He claimed that such actions appear to weaken the institution’s autonomy and increase its dependence on the state government and the ruling political establishment.
The MDC further argued that the removal of the term “Autonomous” amounts to a disregard of the constitutional recognition accorded to the district council and called on the Executive Committee to take immediate corrective measures.
Marak stressed that the official name and identity of the GHADC should be maintained in all records, receipts, logos and official communications to preserve the institution’s constitutional status and autonomy.
He urged the Executive Committee to rectify the issue at the earliest and restore the full official designation of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.
