SHILLONG: UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh on Monday cautioned that the proposed strengthening of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in accordance with the demand of the ANVC by amending the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution might lead to a conflict between the Government and the District Councils.
“The Government is treading on slippery ground since empowering the ADCs might lead to erosion of power of the State Government,” Lyngdoh said during Question Hour in the Assembly on Monday.
He also questioned why the State government was proposing to strengthen the ADCs when the Veerappa Moily report had suggested the abolition of district councils.
In his reply to the query, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma assured that the transfer of power would be only on those subjects which have been laid down in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
“We would not transfer any subjects which are outside the purview of the Sixth Schedule,” Dr. Sangma said.
While replying to the Supplementary Question of Mawsynram MLA Pynshngain N Syiem (Congress), the Chief Minister said any amendment to the Sixth Schedule to accommodate the ANVC demands (for the GHADC) would invariably extend to the other two district councils in the State.
He also said that the Sixth Schedule will have to be amended when the tripartite settlement agreement with the ANVC receives the Centre’s nod.
Commenting on the status of the tripartite settlement, the Chief Minister said that the Union Home Ministry was examining the whole agreement.