TURA/SHILLONG, June 21: In a sharp escalation of the ongoing debate over the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council’s (GHADC) institutional integrity, Tura MDC and BJP leader Bernard N. Marak on Sunday strongly criticised the removal of the word “autonomous” from official receipts and the council’s logo, terming it a serious assault on the body’s constitutional identity and a dangerous step towards its gradual weakening.
Marak pointed out that this latest move fits into a disturbing pattern observed across previous Executive Committees (ECs). Successive administrations have allegedly resorted to diluted nomenclature such as “Garo Hills District Council” (GHDC) and even “Garo District Council” (GDC) in official communications and documents.
He questioned whether these changes were deliberate attempts to erode the Council’s hard-earned autonomy and make it increasingly dependent on the state government and the ruling political dispensation.
“Furthermore, this constitutes a violation of the constitutional recognition accorded to the GHADC under the Sixth Schedule,” Marak added. “It renders it imperative for the current Executive Committee to take immediate corrective measures and restore the official designation in its entirety.”
The controversy erupts against a backdrop of heightened political friction within the GHADC. Critics, including Marak and sections of civil society, have long accused various ECs—particularly those aligned with the National People’s Party (NPP)—of systemic issues ranging from alleged corruption and fund mismanagement to a gradual surrender of autonomous powers to the state.
Recent developments have intensified these concerns: demands for mandatory Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates for contesting council elections, financial crises, and allegations of deliberate institutional weakening.
Opponents argue that subtle symbolic changes—like dropping “autonomous”—signal a deeper intent to normalise the GHADC as just another administrative unit under state control, potentially paving the way for greater interference in tribal affairs.
Stakeholders are now watching closely for the Executive Committee’s response—whether it swiftly restores the full nomenclature or allows the controversy to deepen further.
