Shillong, March 23: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has approved a crucial amendment restricting eligibility to contest Council elections to individuals possessing a valid Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate, effectively barring non-tribal candidates after more than seven decades.
The amendment to the Assam & Meghalaya Autonomous District (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951 was adopted unanimously during a Special Session convened by Governor CH Vijayashankar. It has been officially titled the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (Constitution of District Council) (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
The move formalises a long-standing demand to exclude non-tribal communities from participating in GHADC elections. The development comes after days of unrest across parts of the Garo Hills, where members of the Garo community protested against the participation of non-tribals in the Council polls. The protests turned violent, resulting in the deaths of two persons, while several shops and residential properties were torched and vandalised.
In the aftermath of the violence, the government postponed the GHADC elections, which were earlier scheduled for April 10. The tenure of the Council has also been extended by six months to facilitate the implementation of the amended rules.
The GHADC, constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, plays a vital role in ensuring self-governance and protecting the rights and interests of tribal communities in the region.
Soon after the amendment was passed, thousands of Garo residents gathered outside the National People’s Party (NPP) office in Tura, reflecting strong public sentiment surrounding the decision.
