ADCs meet on amending rules

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, APR 25: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will again convene a meeting next month to discuss on the proposed amendment of the AD Rules, which seeks to allow non-tribal to participate in the election process.

“We will soon hold another round of meeting of the autonomous district councils (ADCs) by the second week of next month to discuss on the matter,” KHADC chief PN Syiem told reporters after a meeting with the delegation of KHNAM here.

In their first joint meeting held in February earlier this year, the ADCs have decided to seek “legal opinion” before going ahead with the proposed amendment of the AD Rules.

It may be mentioned here that the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has been demanding amendment of the Rule 128 of the AD Rules which according to the party is detrimental to the welfare of tribal people.

Rule 128 of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous District (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951 clearly states – “All citizen of India not below the age of 18 years can contest, be electors in the District Council election”.

On the other hand, KHNAM working president Adelbert Nongrum said that the meeting was a follow up on its demand keeping in mind that the district council has been empowered to protect and safeguard the interest of the tribal people.

According to him, the autonomous district council in other states of the North Eastern region had already come up with stringent laws to ensure that the political rights of the tribal are protected.