Garo Hills Council Approves New Voting Rules to Protect Tribal Rights

The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council has enacted new electoral amendments that restrict voting and candidacy to recognized Scheduled Tribes. This significant change aims to protect tribal interests and establish a separate electoral roll for the council, marking a departure from previous practices that allowed broader participation. The move follows a history of demands for better representation and control over local governance by tribal communities. With the backing of the Chief Minister, these amendments are expected to reshape the electoral landscape in Garo Hills, ensuring that the rights of tribal populations are prioritized in future elections.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 10, 2026, 18:24 IST

Significant Amendments in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council

A file image of the GHADC office in Tura. (Photo: X)

Tura, Aug 10: On Monday, the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in western Meghalaya approved significant amendments to its electoral regulations. These changes will prohibit non-tribals from voting or running for office in council elections, while also establishing a distinct electoral roll for this Sixth Schedule body.

According to the revised rules, only individuals recognized as Scheduled Tribes by the Meghalaya government, along with those meeting other specified criteria, will be eligible for inclusion in the GHADC electoral roll.

Chief Executive Member M Dhormonath Ch Sangma stated, "This amendment is a crucial step towards safeguarding the rights and interests of the tribal population in Garo Hills. With the introduction of a separate electoral roll, non-tribals will be excluded from participating in GHADC elections as either voters or candidates."

The council approved changes to Rules 128 and 129 to create a separate electoral roll specifically for GHADC elections, replacing the previous practice of using the electoral roll designated for Assembly elections.

This decision addresses a long-standing demand in Garo Hills for a distinct electoral roll for the autonomous council. Advocates argue that the electoral framework of a Sixth Schedule institution should better protect tribal interests and empower them to manage their own affairs.

Additionally, this amendment follows a change made by the council in March, which established Scheduled Tribe status as a requirement for contesting GHADC elections.

The amendment was passed in the council's House, although Rimpu Marak, the member of district council (MDC) from Tura, was absent during the approval process.

Established in 1952 under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the GHADC had historically conducted its elections using the electoral roll prepared for Assembly elections, allowing various communities to participate in the electoral process.

The recent amendments come in the wake of violent incidents in the Garo Hills earlier this year, following a notification aimed at barring non-tribals from contesting GHADC elections, marking a shift from a practice that had persisted for over seventy years.

The Meghalaya High Court subsequently annulled the notification, and the state government postponed the elections, originally set for April 10, due to violence that resulted in two fatalities.

This latest amendment signifies a substantial shift from the electoral practices that have been in place since the GHADC's inception and is anticipated to alter the makeup of its electorate significantly.

Moreover, this move aligns with the commitment made by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to resolve the issue of a separate electoral roll for the GHADC.