The Datta Commission’s finding about the management of primary education in Khasi Hills has become somewhat irrelevant now, in view of the imminent exit of the defaulting Executive Committee of the outgoing District Council. The appointment of the Commission itself was, therefore somewhat out of place from this point of view. The Commission’s observations, and more particularly the timing of publication of the same, however, would well serve the Congress (I) in the ensuing District Council elections to put under shade the regional parties who have been in control of the District Council affairs during the outgoing term.
Regarding the fate of primary education in this autonomous district, the government could well take it over without such exercise of an impartial enquiry. Having taken over the control of primary education in the other autonomous districts, the government had no valid reason not to take the same decision in respect of the Khasi autonomous district as well. For the sake of a uniform policy throughout the State in respect to a vital subject affecting the government -council relationship, there was no escape from bringing Khasi Hills also in line with the rest in this matter. There should be no different treatment to Khasi Hills even if the new Executive Committee to be formed after the ensuring election is eventually found to be more amenable to the party in power at the State level.