Shillong, Oct 8: Two Garo Hills organisations on Thursday opposed further delay in the election to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) election, a day after the state government granted a second six-month extension.
The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) in a press statement strongly condemned the decision, calling the second extension unwarranted, unjustified and contrary to the spirit of democratic governance.
GSMC said it views the move as undue interference by the state government in the electoral process of an autonomous institution under the Sixth Schedule. The organisation said it had accepted the first extension as it was meant to address key demands including mandatory ST certificates for MDC candidates and a separate electoral roll, both of which were later approved by the GHADC Executive Committee and the Governor.
The organisation also referred to the PIL filed by Nilbath Ch Marak and said the High Court’s direction to conduct elections on the basis of the Delimitation Committee report has strengthened the case for holding polls without further postponement.
The GSMC said its representatives met the GHADC CEM and the Delimitation Committee on October 6 and 7 and were informed that the Committee will submit its report on October 12, while the present Executive Committee’s tenure ends around October 17 to 18.
The GSMC urged the competent election authority to hold the election at the earliest and warned that if the government fails to act, it will be compelled to initiate democratic, constitutional and lawful action to safeguard the rights of the people of Garo Hills.
In a separate memorandum to the Governor, the A·chik Society for Ownership of Native Grounds (ASONG) expressed concern over any indefinite extension and delay of the GHADC general election.
ASONG said that while a limited extension may be constitutionally considered in exceptional circumstances where holding elections is genuinely impracticable, such extension should not become a recurring practice and should not be used to reduce the constitutional term of the next elected council.
Citing Paragraph 2(6A) of the Sixth Schedule which vests the power of extension in the Governor, ASONG said any extension must be strictly within constitutional limits and only for the period genuinely required to complete delimitation and other preparations.
The organisation said delimitation should not become an indefinite ground for postponing elections and should be completed in a transparent, participatory and time-bound manner.
It also urged the Governor to protect the constitutional autonomy and democratic character of the GHADC, which has been functioning since 1952, from unnecessary state interference.
ASONG requested that the Governor permit only a limited extension of six months plus another six months where it is justified, ensure the general election is conducted at the earliest after delimitation, ensure the newly elected MDCs receive their full five-year mandate, and facilitate a free, fair and timely poll.
