The state government has pressed for increase of strength of the three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma submitting a memorandum to visiting Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday.
In the memorandum, Sangma urged the Home Minister to ensure that Meghalaya’s recommendations are incorporated in the Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019, which proposes to increase the strength of the three ADCs.
Sangma said the state government had “comprehensively examined” the Bill and finalised its position after “extensive consultations with various stakeholders” and several meetings with the ADCs.
“The Government of Meghalaya urges upon the Government of India to incorporate its views in The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019,” Sangma said.
While backing an expansion of the councils, Sangma differed with the Centre’s proposed numbers for two of the three ADCs.
For the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), the Bill seeks to raise the strength from 30 to 42 members — 36 elected and 6 nominated.
“The view of the Government of Meghalaya is that the GHADC shall consist of not more than 40 members, of whom 36 shall be elected on the basis of adult suffrage. The Governor will nominate four members of whom at least two shall be women,” the memorandum stated.