Call for ‘party-less’ system in ADCs
addresses the media in the city on Saturday. (ST)
SHILLONG: The Grand Council of Chiefs (GCOC) of Meghalaya on Saturday urged allpolitical parties in the state to carefully examine the issues relating to the proposed amendments to the 6th Schedule of the Constitution vis-a-vis the traditional institutions of Meghalaya.
Speaking to media persons here, Chairman of the Council, John F Kharshiing referred to the amendment brought about in the Meghalaya Municipal (Amendment) Act, 2000 by the then UDP-led government in the State which inserted section 15 A in the Act to bar political parties from contesting in the Municipal polls.
Kharshiing felt that the same logic should be applied when it came to the District Councils in order to protect the “traditional party less system.”
“The moot question now is when the above recourse was adopted, it was to protect the unique party less Dorbar Shnong which was among other issues opposed to the Municipal Elections being held under party affiliations,” Kharshiing said adding that nominating party less traditional chiefs governing institutions such as Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Wahadadar, Dolloi and Nokma within the present ‘party-based’ Autonomous District Councils in Meghalaya will permanently destroy the unique customary practices of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people.
The Grand Council of Chiefs hoped that the political determination will prevail if the political parties make positive recommendations, especially in keeping with their numerous promises in the past and their respective manifestos to address the decades old problems of the traditional institutions of Meghalaya.
It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has convened a meeting of all political parties and representatives of the traditional institutions for an in-depth discussion on the proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution on January 16.
Earlier, the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya had urged the State Government to initiate a ‘party less regional council’ for the traditional tribal governing institutions of the State.