Shillong, January 8: The state government has extended the term of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by six months and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) by another fifteen days.
The terms of all the three district councils of the state is slated to expire on February 17 but with the cabinet giving the nod for extension of the term for all the three councils, the life spans have been further extended by six months to the GHADC and fifteen days each for KHADC and JHADC.
The six months extension to the GHADC was approved by the cabinet considering the that the settlement agreement signed by the A;chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), an underground militant outfit of Garo hills, with the state and central govermment early last year envisage extending the power of the GHADC and increase in the number of Member of District Council (MDC)seats from the current 29 to 40 seats.
The ANVC and other groups reportedly met chief minister Mukul Sangma requesting for the fulfillment of all the agreement signed during the tripartite settlement agreement between the state, central governments and the ANVC.
The ANVC has entered into a ceasefire agreement with state government and union government since 2004 demanding for a GHADC modeled after the Bodo Territorial Council. However in January 5 last year the ANVC agreed to climb down from its earlier demand and instead settled for expansion of the powers of the GHADC and increasing the MDC seats from 29 to 40 seats.
The ANVC and other delegations had argued with the state government that if election to the GHADC is held as schedule it will contradict the agreement as the demands will remain unfulfilled. So the contention was that the state government must first ensure that the demands for expansions of powers of the council and increase of seats are met before the election.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday by extending the term of the GHADC it will allow the ANVC to participate in the democratic process during the elections to the GHADC.
Stating that the text settlement agreement has been taken up with centre, Sangma said, “The union government has informed us that the settlement is in the final stage and that it is pending approval of the union cabinet because the union government has asked some views the state government which has to be send back to the union government. He said, “Therefore it can be considered now that the ultimate accord which would be sign based on this text settlement agreement for permanent political settlement with ANVC is in the final stage.”
Sangma also said that the state and central governments will have to address some issues as they are link to constitutional amendment in respect to the Sixth Scheduled of the Constitution as the proposed text settlement agreement also includes besides others the need to increase in the number of seats from 29 to 40.
Sangma also made it clear that the expansion of powers will not only be for the GHADC but also the KHADC and JHADC. Therefore, he said the parliament has to move amendment that is specific to the district councils of Meghalaya.
Sangma, however, cautioned that it cannot be presume that the process can be completed immediately, but other provisions which ever are possible pending the amendment of the relevant portion of the Sixth Schedule of the constitution will be taken up by the state government with the central government and request the latter to complete keeping in mind its urgency.
Sangma said, “The whole views of the state government will be soon communicated to union government.”
The cabinet also approved the extension of terms of the KHADC and JHADC by 15 days.
Stating that the cabinet has been briefed about the inability to hold the elections of the district councils within the date of expiry of its term as there was the delay due to the delimitation process, District Council Affairs minister HDR Lyngdoh said, “After discussion, the cabinet also agreed for extending the terms of the two district councils – KHADC and JHADC by 15 days.”
According to Lyngdoh, the election process to the two district councils will be taken up and be completed within extension term of 15 days.
Sangma said the election notification will be issued by the DCA to ensure that whole election process in respect of KHADC and JHADC are completed within 15 days of extension which ends by March 3.
It may be mentioned that several traditional heads and ngos of Jaintia hills have submitted a writ petition in the court of the Meghalaya high court chief justice challenging the delimitation bill passed by the JHADC. On the writ petition Sangma said, “Anybody within our democratic system has the right to knock the door of the judiciary system, the same procedure will follow, the government and the JHADC will contest. Since we have approved the proposal, it will be contested.”- By Our Reporter
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