||

Connecting Communities, One Page at a Time.

The Statutory Autonomous Councils Law in Assam is amended: elections are postponed beyond their extended term

Bills passed by the Assam Assembly give the governor the authority to assume control of statutory autonomous councils in the event that elections are postponed beyond their extended term

Deeksha Upadhyay 07 March 2025 18:12

The Statutory Autonomous Councils Law in Assam is amended: elections are postponed beyond their extended term

According to measures approved by the Assam Assembly, the governor may take over statutory autonomous councils if elections are delayed after their extended term.

Rabha Hasong, Tiwa, Mising, Thengal Kachari, Deori, and Sonowal Kachari are the councils affected. The modification allows for a one-year extension (two six-month terms) prior to the governor taking office.

Authority over Tribal Areas

States created Statutory Autonomous Councils by state legislature-passed law.

Additionally, Manipur has six councils. Goal: Tribal communities' social, economic, educational, ethnic, and cultural development

Authority in Assam: Executive authority over 34 areas (e.g., education, land, cottage industries).

Constitutional Autonomous Councils

Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) are established in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura by the Sixth Schedule (Article 244) of the Constitution.

If more than one tribe resides in an independent district, the governor may establish an autonomous region and a matching autonomous regional council.

The Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao are Assam's three independent district councils. There can be up to thirty members—four of whom are nominated by the governor and the others are elected.

Up to 30 members may be included (4 governor-nominated, remaining members elected).

  • The Bodoland Territorial Council is an exception, with a maximum of 46 members.
  • Duration: 5 years.
  • Legislative, executive, judicial, and financial powers are among theirs.
  • The governor has the authority to establish or alter autonomous districts.
  • Ten ADCs total, spread across four states

The Assam Assembly has passed bills that allow the governor to take over statutory autonomous councils in the event that elections are delayed for an extended period of time. The Assam Assembly has approved measures that allow the governor to assume control of statutory autonomous councils in the event that elections are postponed beyond their extended term.

Also Read