KHNAM slams Govt for violating Sixth Schedule by extending ADCs term

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 5, 2024

The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has accused the state government of violating the provision of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India by extending the term of the autonomous district councils – KHADC and JHADC – by another six months.

In a statement issued on Monday, KHNAM working president Thomas Passah said that the proposal of the state government not only violates the provision of the Sixth Schedule but also deprives the rights of the people to re-elect their representatives at the right time. 

“The Governor will have to make a decision and we will be sending our representation to the Governor and will request him to uphold the provision of Para 6A of the Sixth Schedule,” he said.

He said that the movement will not have any objection on the proposal of the State government to extend the term of the council beyond 5 years by 6 more months if it is done inline with the provision given in the section 6A of the Sixth Schedule adding “But the current proposal is totally against the section 6A of the Sixth Schedule.”

Passah said para 6A of the Sixth Schedule clearly stated that: “while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation or if circumstances exist which, in the opinion of the Governor, render the holding of elections impracticable, be extended by the Governor for a period not exceeding one year at a time and in any case where a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation not extending beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate.”

“Therefore in the present scenario there is no emergency and there is no ground for the Governor to render the holding of elections impracticable. From time to time, we have seen that the state government has been interfering with the autonomy of the councils and it is time to uphold the autonomy henceforth,” he asserted.