The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution should be amended to refer to the matrilineal nature of the indigenous tribes of Meghalaya, lawyer, social activist and politician Erwin K Syiem Sutnga has said.
According to him, there should be a chapter in the Sixth Schedule that is specific to states and, in this case, Meghalaya. Sutnga had recommended this when the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the amendment to the Sixth Schedule visited the state.
“The state chapter is needed so that the word matrilineal can be inserted,” he said.
According to him in the Para 12 to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution the powers of the Governor has been divided and in the case of Meghalaya Para 12 A (b) states, “the President may, with respect to any Act of Parliament, by notification, direct that it shall not apply to an autonomous district or an autonomous region in the State of Meghalaya, or shall apply to such district or region or any part thereof subject to such exceptions or modifications as he may specify in the notification and any such direction may be given so as to have retrospective effect.”
He said that the state government can further strengthen the Sixth Schedule so that the local governance and culture and traditions of the indigenous tribes are further strengthened.
Sutnga also pointed out that the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is more effective than Article 371.
Pointing out to Article 371A, a special provision for Nagaland, he stated that it was a “temporary provision”, like 370 in Jammu and Kashmir which was abolished by the Centre in 2019.
Sutnga stated that Article 371A gives special responsibility to the Governor with respect to law and order in Nagaland.
He pointed out that in Meghalaya, there are no such provisions and law and order is the responsibility of the state government.
