GHADC passes amendments allowing a separate electoral roll for Council polls, with voting eligibility linked to Scheduled Tribe status in Meghalaya
Shillong: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on Monday passed amendments to Rules 128 and 129, paving the way for a separate electoral roll exclusively for District Council elections.
The move marks a major shift in the electoral framework of the Sixth Schedule institution and fulfils a long-standing demand in Garo Hills as well as a key electoral commitment of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
For decades, GHADC elections have been conducted using the electoral roll prepared for Assembly elections. Under the amended rules, a dedicated electoral roll will now be prepared specifically for Council elections.
The changes also link eligibility to vote in GHADC elections to Scheduled Tribe status notified for Meghalaya, along with other prescribed qualifications. This effectively excludes non-ST persons from the GHADC electoral roll.
The development follows an amendment passed in March that introduced Scheduled Tribe status as a qualification for contesting District Council elections.
The changes represent a significant departure from the electoral framework in place since the GHADC was established in 1952, when members of different communities could participate in Council elections.
Supporters of the reform have long argued that a separate electoral roll would better align the Council’s electoral system with its constitutional mandate of protecting tribal interests and promoting autonomous tribal governance.
The amendment was passed during House proceedings, though Tura MDC Rimpu Marak was not present when the changes were approved.
The amendments now pave the way for preparation of a dedicated GHADC electoral roll, marking one of the most significant changes to the Council’s electoral system since its creation.
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