Shillong, March 20: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) will convene a two-day special session on March 23 and 24 at Tura to deliberate and pass amendments to the AD Rules, amid ongoing protests over non-tribal participation in council elections.
According to an official notification issued by the District Council Affairs Department on March 19, the Governor of Meghalaya has summoned the special session under provisions of the Assam & Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951. The session will begin at 11:00 AM at the District Council Hall, Tura.
The development comes in the wake of sustained public agitation demanding that only tribal electors be allowed to participate in GHADC elections. The issue has emerged as a major political flashpoint in the region.
Briefing reporters, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge District Council Affairs, Prestone Tynsong, said the primary agenda of the session is to amend the AD Rules. “The agenda is very clear: one issue is about the amendment of the AD Rules and on that let the amendment be passed,” Tynsong stated.
He clarified that the proposed amendments will not be limited to a single provision, indicating that multiple rules could be reviewed.
However, the Deputy Chief Minister refrained from disclosing specific details of the amendments prior to the session. “How can I tell you now? Wait till the House adopts or passes the amendment,” he added.
The special session has been convened following the state government’s decision to extend the tenure of the GHADC by an additional six months, providing time for legislative action on the contentious issue. The upcoming session is expected to play a crucial role in addressing concerns surrounding electoral participation and shaping the future framework of district council elections in the Garo Hills.
