SHILLONG : Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday clarified that imposing administrator’s rule will not resolve the ongoing issues surrounding the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), stressing that only the council’s House has the authority to amend its rules.
Responding to demands for placing the GHADC under administrator’s rule, Tynsong explained that an administrator has limited powers and cannot pass amendments related to rules and regulations.
He stated that the matter is directly linked to the amendment of the AD rules and regulations, which can only be carried out by the elected members within the council House.
Tynsong emphasized that due to these legal and procedural limitations, the government had no option but to extend the tenure of the GHADC for six months. This extension, he said, is intended to provide sufficient time for the council to convene, deliberate, and take necessary decisions regarding the amendments.
The development comes in the wake of violent protests over the issue of non-tribal participation in the council elections, which led to demands for postponement of the GHADC polls that were initially scheduled for April 10.
The controversy has also intensified calls for reforms in the electoral process and regulatory framework governing the council.
On the issue of creating a separate electoral roll for the GHADC, Tynsong informed that the delimitation committee is currently working on the process. He added that the committee has been instructed to complete its task within a three-month timeframe.
The Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that the resolution of the issue lies within the democratic framework of the council and cannot be bypassed through administrative intervention.