From Our Correspondent
TURA, March 25: A day after Governor C.H. Vijayashankar gave his assent to the GHADC amendment bill mandating all candidates contesting future GHADC elections to produce ST certificates, the Tura Garo Senior Citizens Forum (TGSCF) has also sought the immediate preparation of a separate electoral roll for the Council to restrict non-tribal voters from participating in its elections.
In its appeal addressed to newly-elected CEM Dhormonath Ch Sangma, the forum while welcoming the ST certificate law, also sought that the process for preparing the separate electoral roll be started at the earliest.
“Para 20 of the Sixth Schedule under articles 244(2) and 275 of the Constitution of India bars non-tribal people from contesting or participating in the ADC elections entirely for preserving the traditional way of life, unique customary laws and culture of the tribals or the hill people. The root cause of the recent unrest in Garo Hills was the non-implementation of the provisions of the Sixth Schedule in letter and spirit, thus enfranchising non-tribals in the GHADC elections,” they said.
According to the forum, the preparation of a separate electoral roll would not only bar non-tribals from participating in ADC elections but also honour the objectives of the Sixth Schedule.
