Correspondent
The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has unanimously passed a landmark amendment making it mandatory for candidates contesting Council elections to possess a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate. The Bill, titled The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (Constitution of District Council) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, was introduced by newly elected Chief Executive Member Dhormonath Sangma during a special two-day session that began Monday.
The amendment modifies Rule 8 of Chapter I, Part II of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951, inserting a new clause requiring candidates to belong to a Scheduled Tribe as specified in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, applicable to Meghalaya.
The Bill was passed unanimously in the 30-member House, though three members were absent, including Nathawal S. Marak who cited illness.
The decision comes against the backdrop of recent communal violence in Tura over non-tribals contesting GHADC elections. On March 9, clashes between members of the Garo tribe and Bengali-speaking Muslims left two people dead after former MLA Esmatur Mominin attempted to file his nomination despite a GHADC notification barring non-tribals. The Meghalaya High Court later quashed that notification, ruling it procedurally invalid.
Following the unrest, elections scheduled for April 10 were postponed by Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar. The Meghalaya Cabinet subsequently extended the GHADC’s term by six months, until October 18, 2026.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma hailed the passage of the amendment, calling it a step toward ensuring “true representation of our Garo people.”
He emphasized that district councils were established for tribal communities and expressed confidence that non-tribal groups would understand the rationale behind the move.
“This decision will strengthen leadership by those who understand the aspirations, traditions, and future of our community,” Sangma said, urging all communities to work together in peace and harmony for the progress of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, and the wider Northeast region.