Meghalaya to Implement Separate Voter List for Scheduled Tribe Voters in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Elections
Meghalayas Garo Hills will have a separate voter list for Scheduled Tribe voters in upcoming council elections, following recent amendments.
Shillong, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections in Meghalaya will feature a separate voter list for Scheduled Tribe (ST) voters, following the approval of amendments to election rules by Governor C.H. Viyashankar. Non-tribal voters will be excluded from this council’s voter list, officials announced on Wednesday.
The governor has given his consent to the amendments, which are expected to be notified in the state gazette as the GHADC (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026. This notification will bring changes to the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Formation of District Councils) Rules, 1951.
Under the revised provisions, candidates participating in the GHADC elections must now belong to the Scheduled Tribe as a mandatory qualification, as outlined in Rule 8. Rule 128 specifies the eligibility criteria for ST voters, while Rule 129 introduces the provision for a separate voter list for the GHADC elections.
This new arrangement will replace the current practice of using the assembly voter list for autonomous council elections. Following the governor’s approval on August 6, the GHADC passed the amendment bill on August 10, initiating the amendment process.
Previously, the council had amended Rule 8 on March 23. These latest changes come in response to a ruling from the Meghalaya High Court, which annulled a prior executive notification issued by the GHADC that required candidates to possess a Scheduled Tribe certificate. The court stated that such requirements should be established through the formal rule-making process rather than an executive notification.
In light of the legal setback, the GHADC formed a committee in May 2025 to review the election provisions and assess the feasibility of creating a separate voter list for the council. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting the rights of indigenous communities, ensuring that governance and policy-making remain accountable to the communities they serve.
This development adds to the uncertainty surrounding the schedule for the upcoming GHADC elections.
