Editor,
Apropos the special article “Sixth Schedule of the Constitution: A double-edged sword” by Patricia Mukhim (ST Aug 8,2014) , the author rightly pointed out that the 6th Schedule was never meant to be an instrument that would be needed in perpetuity and that the Indian Constitution or the Election Commission have no clear interpretation as to whether a sitting member of the District Council could also be an MLA and vice-versa. I agree with the author that this has to be scrutinised and it would be in the interest of the governed that the matter is promptly addressed and cleared. The onus is now on the Ministry of Home Affairs where the matter has been lying for more than a year under the Congress regime. Now that the Bharatiya Janata Party is at the helm of affairs I am hopeful that the Home Minister, Rajnath Singh will direct the concerned officials in the Home Ministry to clear the matter once and for all to its logical conclusion.
If we read history in proper perspective we will discover that it was not only Late Captain W.A.Sangma who wanted the continuance of District Council as a hub for upcoming politicians but it was also (Late) Indira Gandhi the then Prime Minister of India who used ‘not the Constitution’ but ‘her influence’ to let the ADCs remain despite granting of full statehood to Meghalaya – a policy of appeasement for political gain. Late Rev J.J.M Nichols Roy in the debate of the constituent Assembly described the District Council’s autonomy as a compromise and this was so as the process of Statehood was in the offing. Thanks to those who sacrificed their time and life for 18 long years that the slogan “No Hill State No Rest” reverberated in the hill areas of the region from 1954 till Meghalaya was achieved in 1972. The author has raised five valid questions in her special article that can be challenged in the court of law. One cannot run away from the “rule of law” and sooner or later the law takes its own course.
The District Councils are a drain on the national exchequer as they are unable to raise their own resources to fund their activities in a sustainable manner but are heavily dependent on the dole of the State Government which in turn is heavily dependent on grants-in-aid from the Central Government, especially the so called special category States which are heavily dependent on the Centre. Despite the fact that the Government of India pumps huge amounts of resources for their development these states remain laggards . The Central Government should take note of this. After all doling out money in times of economic hardship that the country is going through is not justified but a burden on the tax payers of the country.
Yours etc.,
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
