Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 526/15

GHADC TO COME UNDER DC ADMINISTRATION FROM AUG 18

Shillong, August 3, 2015: The State Cabinet has decided to further extend the term of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and also get the approval of the Governor for handing over the administration of the District Council to an Administrator paving the way for the much-awaited elections.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Cabinet on Monday where certain proposals including the Government’s recommendations on illegal migrants, Judicial Service Rules, MBOSE Service Regulation and MBOSE Conduct Regulation, 2015 were also taken up for consideration.

Chief Minister Dr.Mukul Sangma said that since the elections to the GHADC could not be held during the extended period before August 17, there is a need to further extend the term and get the approval of the Governor for taking over the administration of the District Council for two month with effect from August 18 to October 21, next. The Cabinet also decided to recommend the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills as the administrator of the District Council for the period.

According to the Minister for District Council Affairs, H D R Lyngdoh, the Department had prepared to hold the elections well within the extended period that is, before August 17, but due to the by-election at Chokpot, the Election department had advised that the elections be held only after the completion of Chokpot by-election.

The date for holding elections would also be notified by the department during the period. It may be mentioned that the Government had earlier decided to proceed with the election in the beginning of the year but subsequent to the intimation from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that the proposal for amending the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution should in line with the provisions which was part of the Text Settlement between the Government and the ANVC, they had requested for considering further extension of the term of the GHADC for another six months so that the Union Government can take all necessary measures for consideration of the Parliament in the last session. “Based on that State Government honoured their suggestion for further extension of the term of GHADC”, the Chief Minister said.

However, Union Government has said that the actual amendment of the relevant provisions of the Sixth Schedule would take more time and the State Government may therefore not wait further and consider holding the election as and when it deemed fit.