SHILLONG, July 8: State BJP vice president and Tura MDC, Bernard N Marak has raised alarm over what he termed as ‘constitutional anomalies’ and ‘policy deviations’ within the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), seeking Governor CH Vijayashankar’s immediate intervention to uphold the sanctity of the Sixth Schedule.
Marak accused the Council of unlawfully adopting the ‘Assam Schedule’ without official gazette notification, thereby allowing plain mauzas to operate in areas designated for hill mauzas, severely undermining the traditional role of Nokmas.
He urged the Governor to direct the abolishment of the Assam Schedule from GHADC’s jurisdiction.
Highlighting a breach of reservation norms, Marak noted that reserved GHADC seats meant exclusively for Scheduled Tribes had been opened to general candidates a departure from the practices followed in Khasi and Jaintia Hills. He demanded that Scheduled Tribe certificates be made compulsory during nominations to ensure equitable tribal representation.
He further criticised the erosion of documentation authority, stating that Scheduled Tribe residents were now required to approach state offices for essential certificates, bypassing the GHADC. He sought restoration of this power to the Council. Raising constitutional concerns, Marak pointed out that municipalities had been introduced in Nokma-administered areas of Garo Hills through a Council resolution, in direct violation of Article 243ZC. He called for a formal notification from the Governor clarifying the illegality of such functioning in Scheduled Areas.
The memorandum also objected to the takeover of GHADC departments like Education, Health, Forest, Transport, and Civil Works by the state government, calling for their immediate restoration to the Council to reassert its autonomy under the Sixth Schedule.
On land issues, Marak alleged that Nokma lands in Tura were being wrongly reclassified as government land without due acquisition. He cited a 1975 Gazette Notification and urged the Governor to halt such actions that threaten tribal land rights.
Citing fund shortages, a 41-month salary backlog, and pending GST liabilities, Marak described the GHADC as institutionally crippled. He appealed for decisive steps from the Governor to restore the constitutional integrity and functional viability of the GHADC in the interest of Garo Hills’ indigenous communities.
