The 2018 amendment was designed to overhaul the entire Assam & Meghalaya (Constitution of District Councils)
Rules framework
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 26: KHADC Opposition Leader Titosstarwell Chyne has challenged the Executive Committee (EC) to stop “cherry-picking” amendments and instead resurrect the comprehensive 2018 reform bill currently gathering dust in the state government’s “Expert Committee” graveyard.
While backing the immediate amendment of Rule 128 to address non-tribal participation in council elections, Chyne reminded the current leadership that the groundwork for sweeping reforms was laid six years ago. The 2018 amendment, passed during the tenure of former Chief Executive Member late HS Shylla, was designed to overhaul the entire Assam and Meghalaya (Constitution of District Councils) Rules framework.
The bill has remained stalled in the District Council Affairs (DCA) department for years. Chyne revealed that the state government previously raised 11 queries regarding the 2018 bill—all of which were answered during his own tenure as CEM.
“The EC now faces a choice: they can either amend Rule 128 in isolation or undertake a wider review of the AD Rules,” Chyne told reporters on Thursday. He suggested the EC retains the option to recall the 2018 bill from the government and replace it with a revised version to expedite the process.
Addressing the urgency signaled by KHNAM’s demand for a special session within 10 days, Chyne noted that while Rule 128 is the immediate priority, the council must not lose sight of the broader legislative protections passed by his predecessors.
A scheduled meeting between the Opposition and CEM Winston Tony Lyngdoh to deliberate on the matter was deferred on Thursday due to “unavoidable reasons” and is now expected to take place on Friday.
Chyne also pointed to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), which recently mandated that non-Garo candidates must produce Scheduled Tribe certificates to contest elections. He noted that while the state government has suggested the KHADC follow a similar path, the primary objective must remain the protection of indigenous electoral rights.
“The timing is right to amend the rules,” Chyne said. “The wording may vary between councils, but the goal of safeguarding the interests of the original inhabitants must be consistent.”
