Meghalaya: Opposition party expresses concern over ‘unrepresented tribes’ in Sixth Schedule
SHILLONG | September 13, 2019:
The Opposition party on Thursday had expressed concern over the inclusion of the word 'unrepresented tribes' in the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in the Assembly.
Congress legislator from East Shillong, Ampareen Lyngdoh, while raising the issue during the Autumn Session of the Assembly said that the word "unrepresented tribes" should be removed from the proposed amendment. She also asked as to who the 'unrepresented tribes' were.
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In his reply, the District Council Affairs Minister, James PK Sangma said that this was a contentious issue, which was being discussed by a committee formed under his chairmanship. "The matter will be put up before the parliamentary standing committee." Sangma said. He further said the words refer to those tribes who do not find representation in the autonomous territorial councils.
Replying to the question, District Council Affairs Minister, James PK Sangma said that this was a contentious issue, which was being discussed by a committee formed under his chairmanship. "The matter will be put up before the parliamentary standing committee." Sangma said.
He further said that the word refers to those tribes who do not find representation in the autonomous territorial councils. "Those tribes who are in the schedule of tribes in Meghalaya," Sangma said.
Meanwhile, the Congress legislator from East Shillong had suggested that the word "Village Council" and "Municipal Council" should be replaced by "Dorbar Shnong" and "Dorbar Raid".
The DCA Minister informed the house that the Bill seeking Amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution has been referred to a Standing Committee of the Rajya Sabha.
However, Congress legislator from Umroi, George Lyngdoh differed from the stand of the DCA Minister saying the "unrepresented tribes", has to be taken from under the Presidential Order of 1950.
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"We need to move a resolution to amend that order of 1950," Lyngdoh said. He pointed out that there are 50-60 tribes listed in the Presidential Order of 1950 and if the clause applies then a member of the council would have to nominate from tribes across northeast.
Replying to a question raised by Ampareen, he said under the proposed amendment, the Garo Hills Autonomous Territorial Council will consist of not more than 42 members, of whom 36 will be elected on the basis of adult suffrage. He also informed that the Governor will nominate six members of whom at least two shall be women and other four shall be from the unrepresented tribes.
It may be mentioned that the Khasi Hills Autonomous Territorial Council shall consist of now more than 40 members, of whom 36 shall be elected on the basis of adult suffrage. The governor will nominate four members of whom at least two shall be women and at least two shall be from the unrepresented tribes.
The Jaintia Hills Autonomous Territorial Council shall consist of not more than 34 members, of whom four members including at least two women shall be nominated by the governor and rest of the members shall be elected on basis of adult suffrage.
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The DCA Minister had informed that when an MDC is chosen as a member of the state legislature or as member of either house of Parliament, such member's seat in the council shall become vacant after the expiration of 14 days from the date of publication of the declaration in the Gazette.
