Guwahati: Congress leader and former South Tura MLA John Leslee K. Sangma on Friday said the Meghalaya government’s recent gazette notification mandating a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate for candidates contesting Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections falls short of fully protecting the political and land rights of the indigenous Garo community.
The notification, which received the Governor’s assent earlier this week, has been projected by the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) as a landmark step. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma described it as a historic victory for indigenous rights, noting that the demand had remained unresolved for over seven decades since the creation of Autonomous District Councils under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
However, Sangma termed the move “disputable” and largely superficial, arguing that it does not address deeper structural issues embedded in the existing legal framework.
In a video statement, he said that merely requiring an ST certificate does not eliminate contradictions in the current rules. He pointed out that the government’s broad definition of “tribal” — encompassing around 11 tribes and 37 sub-tribes could still allow individuals from outside Garo Hills to participate in the elections.
“I do not think we won. We merely closed the door but kept the windows open,” he said, adding that without comprehensive legal reforms, the new requirement could create further ambiguity.
Sangma also referred to observations made by the Meghalaya High Court while hearing petitions related to the notification. According to him, the court had indicated the need to amend the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts Rules, 1951.
He identified two provisions requiring urgent revision. Rule 8(c), which currently allows any eligible voter to contest elections, and Rule 128, which permits all permanent residents within the council’s jurisdiction to vote — even if they are not part of the Scheduled Tribes listed in the Presidential Order of 1950 applicable to Meghalaya.
Sangma proposed that Rule 8(c) be amended to restrict both voting and contesting rights exclusively to indigenous tribals of Garo Hills with customary land ownership rights. He further called for changes to Rule 128 to bar members of non-native ST communities from participating as voters in GHADC elections.
On the recent arrests of civil society organisation (CSO) leaders in Tura, Sangma described the activists as “true heroes” for spearheading the movement to safeguard tribal rights. He urged the government to withdraw all charges against them.
At the same time, he drew a distinction between peaceful protestors and those involved in violence, stating that individuals who engaged in looting or other unlawful acts during the agitation must face legal action.