Raphael Warjri

The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) on Tuesday urged Governor CH Vijayashankar to intervene and grant approval for making the Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate mandatory for participation in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council elections, while also pressing for amendments to Paragraph 12A of the Sixth Schedule.

Addressing the media after meeting the Governor, GSU president Tengsak G Momin said the delegation raised a single-point agenda focused on enforcing the ST requirement for both voters and candidates in the GHADC polls.

He stated that the union also proposed amendments to Rule 128 to include the term “Indigenous Scheduled Tribe of Garo Hills,” alongside seeking a revision of Paragraph 12A to curtail the state government’s authority in framing rules for district councils.

The GSU maintained that permitting non-tribal individuals to vote or contest in GHADC elections undermines the core objective of the Sixth Schedule, which is intended to protect the identity, rights, and cultural heritage of indigenous tribal communities.

Momin further noted that the demand to amend Paragraph 12A has been consistently pursued in coordination with groups such as the Khasi Students’ Union and the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People.

On the Governor’s response, he described it as positive, adding that discussions also touched on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the feasibility of implementing the proposed changes ahead of the GHADC elections.

He added that the Governor had taken up the matter with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, particularly on the need to prioritise ST certification in the electoral framework of the GHADC.

Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar has given assent to an amendment mandating possession of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate as a prerequisite for candidates seeking to contest the Member of District Council (MDC) elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma confirmed the development, stating on X that the Governor had approved the amended provisions requiring all aspirants to furnish valid ST certification to be eligible for the polls. He also conveyed his appreciation to the Governor for the assent.
The approval follows the decision of the GHADC Executive Committee, led by the National People's Party (NPP), which had earlier cleared the amendment making ST certification mandatory for all candidates. The provision effectively disqualifies non-tribal individuals from contesting MDC elections, marking a significant shift from the existing framework in place since the council’s establishment in 1952.

A day prior to the Governor’s assent, the Chief Minister had termed the move by the NPP-led Executive Committee as a “historic step,” highlighting its importance in preserving the representation of indigenous tribal communities within the council