ADCs to seek legal opinion on non-tribal participation

SHILLONG: The Autonomous District Councils in Meghalaya will seek legal opinion on the proposed amendment to Rule 128 of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous District (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951, which allows non-tribals to participate in the election process.
The KHADC and GHADC delegations led by chief executive members P.N Syiem and Denang T. Sangma, respectively, met in the city on Friday and decided to approach legal experts on the amendment. As per Rule 128, non-tribals above the age of 18 years can take part in the District Council election. While in KHADC, no non-tribal takes part in election despite the law, in GHADC non-tribals participate in the election process.
“It is a Constitutional matter. The District Councils from Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills will constitute committees to seek expert views,” Syiem told reporters on Friday. The JHADC representatives could not attend the meeting.
Syiem said after the councils seek legal opinion, the representatives will meet again before taking a collective decision.
Last year, several Garo organisations had written to the GHADC chief executive member demanding a bill to end participation of non-tribals in District Council affairs.
In the joint letter to Sangma, organisations like the (Contd on P-10)