The ruling – United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will convene an all-party meeting of the Members of District Council (MDCs) tomorrow to seek their views on the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule.
Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM), Gigur Myrthong informed that there are a few “thorny” issues the executive committee of the KHADC wants to discuss with all the MDCs before it gives its final views on the proposed amendments to the State government, which will be forwarded by it to the Centre.
Myrthong said that incorporating elements of Panchayati Raj institution in the Sixth Schedule will be against the system of governance of the indigenous tribes of the State. He also said that they are opposed to giving representation to the unrepresented tribes in the district councils.
It may be mentioned that the 223 Report of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee 0n the Constitution (125 Amendment) Bill, 2019 has made certain recommendations like, increasing the number of seats for Khasi and Garo Hills Autonomous District Councils.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee had also proposed giving representation to the unrepresented tribes in the autonomous district councils through nomination.
The standing committee is also of the views that custom/practices however, sacrosanct they may be, should not override the democratic principles.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that the proposed amendments have been made to bring in elements of Panchayati Raj in the Sixth Schedule Areas.
“The Committee feels that providing any exception to the said provisions as has been done in the case of the State of Meghalaya goes against the ethos of democracy particularly at the grass-root level,” the Standing Committee had stated.
The Standing Committee was of the view that for strengthening democracy at the grass-root level, this provision should he applicable to all states without exception. It recommended the Ministry to prescribe a time limit for lifting this relaxation/operation to a State without any reasonable cause or any time limit which may not be tenable.
