SIXTH
SCHEDULE
[Articles 244(2) and 275(1)
Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam,
Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
1. Autonomous districts and autonomous regions.—
(1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the tribal areas in each item
of Parts I, II and IIA and in Part III of the table appended to paragraph 20 of
this Schedule shall be an autonomous district.
(2) If there are different Scheduled Tribes in an autonomous district, the
Governor may, by public notification, divide the area or areas inhabited by them
into autonomous regions.
(3) The Governor may, by public notification,—
(a) include any area in any of the Parts of the said table,
(b) exclude any area from any of the Parts of the said table,
(c) create a new autonomous district,
(d) increase the area of any autonomous district,
(e) diminish the area of any autonomous district,
(f) unite two or more autonomous districts or parts thereof so as to form one
autonomous district,
(ff) alter the name of any autonomous district,
(g) define the boundaries of any autonomous district:
Provided that no order shall be made by the Governor under clauses (c), (d), (e)
and (f) of this sub-paragraph except after consideration of the report of a
Commission appointed under sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 14 of this Schedule:
Provided further that any order made by the Governor under this sub-paragraph
may contain such incidental and consequential provisions (including any
amendment of paragraph 20 and of any item in any of the Parts of the said table)
as appear to the Governor to be necessary for giving effect to the provisions of
the order.
2. Constitution of District Councils and Regional Councils.—
(1) There shall be a District Council for each autonomous district consisting of
not more than thirty members, of whom not more than four persons shall be
nominated by the Governor and the rest shall be elected on the basis of adult
suffrage.
(2) There shall be a separate Regional Council for each area constituted an
autonomous region under sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 1 of this Schedule.
(3) Each District Council and each Regional Council shall be a body corporate by
the name respectively of ‘the District Council of (name of district)’ and ‘the
Regional Council of (name of region)’, shall have perpetual succession and a
common seal and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the administration of an
autonomous district shall, in so far as it is not vested under this Schedule in
any Regional Council within such district, be vested in the District Council for
such district and the administration of an autonomous region shall be vested in
the Regional Council for such region.
(5) In an autonomous district with Regional Councils, the District Council shall
have only such powers with respect to the areas under the authority of the
Regional Council as may be delegated to it by the Regional Council in addition
to the powers conferred on it by this Schedule with respect to such areas.
(6) The Governor shall make rules for the first constitution of District
Councils and Regional Councils in consultation with the existing tribal Councils
or other representative tribal organisations within the autonomous districts or
regions concerned, and such rules shall provide for—
(a) the composition of the District Councils and Regional Councils and the
allocation of seats therein;
(b) the delimitation of territorial constituencies for the purpose of elections
to those Councils;
(c) the qualifications for voting at such elections and the preparation of
electoral rolls therefor;
(d) the qualifications for being elected at such elections as members of such
Councils;
(e) the term of office of members of Regional Councils;
(f) any other matter relating to or connected with elections or nominations to
such Councils;
(g) the procedure and the conduct of business including the power to act
notwithstanding any vacancy in the District and Regional Councils;
(h) the appointment of officers and staff of the District and Regional
Councils.
(6A) The elected members of the District Council shall hold office for a term of
five years from the date appointed for the first meeting of the Council after
the general elections to the Council, unless the District Council is sooner
dissolved under paragraph 16 and a nominated member shall hold office at the
pleasure of the Governor:
Provided that the said period of five years may, while a Proclamation of
Emergency is in operation or if circumstances exist which, in the opinion of the
Governor, render the holding of elections impracticable, be extended by the
Governor for a period not exceeding one year at a time and in any case where a
Proclamation of Emergency is in operation not extending beyond a period of six
months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate:
Provided further that a member elected to fill a casual vacancy shall hold
office only for the remainder of the term of office of the member whom he
replaces.
(7) The District or the Regional Council may after its first constitution make
rules with the approval of the Governor with regard to the matters specified in
sub-paragraph (6) of this paragraph and may also make rules with like approval
regulating—
(a) the formation of subordinate local Councils or Boards and their procedure
and the conduct of their business; and
(b) generally all matters relating to the transaction of business pertaining to
the administration of the district or region, as the case may be:
Provided that until rules are made by the District or the Regional Council under
this sub-paragraph the rules made by the Governor under sub-paragraph (6) of
this paragraph shall have effect in respect of elections to, the officers and
staff of, and the procedure and the conduct of business in, each such Council.
***
3. Powers of the District Councils and Regional Councils to make laws.—
(1) The Regional Council for an autonomous region in respect of all areas within
such region and the District Council for an autonomous district in respect of
all areas within the district except those which are under the authority of
Regional Councils, if any, within the district shall have power to make laws
with respect to—
(a) the allotment, occupation or use, or the setting apart, of land, other than
any land which is a reserved forest for the purposes of agriculture or grazing
or for residential or other non-agricultural purposes or for any other purpose
likely to promote the interests of the inhabitants of any village or town:
Provided that nothing in such laws shall prevent the compulsory acquisition of
any land, whether occupied or unoccupied, for public purposes by the Government
of the State concerned in accordance with the law for the time being in force
authorising such acquisition;
(b) the management of any forest not being a reserved forest;
(c) the use of any canal or water-course for the purpose of agriculture;
(d) the regulation of the practice of jhum or other forms of shifting
cultivation;
(e) the establishment of village or town committees or councils and their
powers;
(f) any other matter relating to village or town administration, including
village or town police and public health and sanitation;
(g) the appointment or succession of Chiefs or Headmen;
(h) the inheritance of property;
(i) marriage and divorce;
(j) social customs.
(2) In this paragraph, a ‘reserved forest’ means any area which is a reserved
forest under the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891, or under any other law for the
time being in force in the area in question.
(3) All laws made under this paragraph shall be submitted forthwith to the
Governor and, until assented to by him, shall have no effect.
4. Administration of justice in autonomous districts and autonomous regions.—
(1) The Regional Council for an autonomous region in respect of areas within
such region and the District Council for an autonomous district in respect of
areas within the district other than those which are under the authority of the
Regional Councils, if any, within the district may constitute village councils
or courts for the trial of suits and cases between the parties all of whom
belong to Scheduled Tribes within such areas, other than suits and cases to
which the provisions of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 5 of this Schedule apply,
to the exclusion of any court in the State, and may appoint suitable persons to
be members of such village councils or presiding officers of such courts, and
may also appoint such officers as may be necessary for the administration of the
laws made under paragraph 3 of this Schedule.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the Regional Council for an
autonomous region or any court constituted in that behalf by the Regional
Council or, if in respect of any area within an autonomous district there is no
Regional Council, the District Council for such district, or any court
constituted in that behalf by the District Council, shall exercise the powers of
a court of appeal in respect of all suits and cases triable by a village council
or court constituted under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph within such
region or area, as the case may be, other than those to which the provisions of
sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 5 of this Schedule apply, and no other court
except the High Court and the Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction over such
suits or cases.
(3) The High Court *** shall have and exercise such jurisdiction over the suits
and cases to which the provisions of sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph apply
as the Governor may from time to time by order specify.
(4) A Regional Council or District Council, as the case may be, may with the
previous approval of the Governor make rules regulating—
(a) the constitution of village councils and courts and the powers to be
exercised by them under this paragraph;
(b) the procedure to be followed by village councils or courts in the trial of
suits and cases under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph;
(c) the procedure to be followed by the Regional or District Council or any
court constituted by such Council in appeals and other proceedings under
sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph;
(d) the enforcement of decisions and orders of such Councils and courts:
(e) all other ancillary matters for the carrying out of the provisions of
sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph.
(5) On and from such date as the President may, after consulting the Government
of the State concerned, by notification appoint in this behalf, this paragraph
shall have effect in relation to such autonomous district or region as may be
specified in the notification, as if—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for the words "between the parties all of whom belong
to Scheduled Tribes within such areas, other than suits and cases to which the
provisions of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 5 of this Schedule apply,", the
words "not being suits and cases of the nature referred to in sub- paragraph (1)
of paragraph (5) of this Schedule, which the Governor may specify in this
behalf," had been substituted;
(ii) sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) had been omitted;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (4)—
(a) for the words "A Regional Council or District Council, as the case may be,
may with the previous approval of the Governor make rules regulating’, the words
"the Governor may make rules regulating’ had been substituted; and
(b) for clause (a), the following clause had been substituted, namely:—
(a) the constitution of village councils and courts, the powers to be exercised
by them under this paragraph and the courts to which appeals from the decisions
of village councils and courts shall lie;"
(c) for clause (c), the following clause had been substituted, namely:—
"(c) the transfer of appeals and other proceedings pending before the Regional
or District Council or any court constituted by such Council immediately before
the date appointed by the President under sub-paragraph (5);" and
(d) in clause (e), for the words, brackets and figures "sub-paragraphs (1) and
(2)", the word, brackets and figure "sub-paragraph (1)" had been substituted.
5. Conferment of powers under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1898,1 on the Regional and District Councils and on certain
courts and officers for the trial of certain suits, cases and offences.—
(1) The Governor may, for the trial of suits or cases arising out of any law in
force in any autonomous district or region being a law specified in that behalf
by the Governor, or for the trial of offences punishable with death,
transportation for life, or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years
under the Indian Penal Code or under any other law for the time being applicable
to such district or region, confer on the District Council or the Regional
Council having authority over such district or region or on courts constituted
by such District Council or on any officer appointed in that behalf by the
Governor, such powers under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, or, as the case
may be, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 18981, as he deems appropriate, and
thereupon the said Council, court or officer shall try the suits, cases or
offences in exercise of the powers so conferred.
(2) The Governor may withdraw or modify any of the powers conferred on a
District Council, Regional Council, court or officer under sub-paragraph (1) of
this paragraph.
(3) Save as expressly provided in this paragraph, the Code of Civil Procedure,
1908, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 18981, shall not apply to the trial of
any suits, cases or offences in an autonomous district or in any autonomous
region to which the provisions of this paragraph apply.
(4) On and from the date appointed by the President under sub-paragraph (5) of
paragraph 4 in relation to any autonomous district or autonomous region, nothing
contained in this paragraph shall, in its application to that district or
region, be deemed to authorise the Governor to confer on the District Council or
Regional Council or on courts constituted by the District Council any of the
powers referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph.
6. Powers of the District Council to establish primary schools, etc.—
(1) The District Council for an autonomous district may establish, construct, or
manage primary schools, dispensaries, markets, cattle pounds, ferries,
fisheries, roads, road transport and waterways in the district and may, with the
previous approval of the Governor, make regulations for the regulation and
control thereof and, in particular, may prescribe the language and the manner in
which primary education shall be imparted in the primary schools in the
district.
(2) The Governor may, with the consent of any District Council, entrust either
conditionally or unconditionally to that Council or to its officers functions in
relation to agriculture, animal husbandry, community projects, co-operative
societies, social welfare, village planning or any other matter to which the
executive power of the State *** extends.
7. District and Regional Funds.—
(1) There shall be constituted for each autonomous district, a District Fund for
each autonomous region, a Regional Fund to which shall be credited all moneys
received respectively by the District Council for that district and the Regional
Council for that region in the course of the administration of such district or
region, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of this
Constitution.
(2) The Governor may make rules for the management of the District Fund, or, as
the case may be, the Regional Fund and for the procedure to be followed in
respect of payment of money into the said Fund, the withdrawal of moneys
therefrom, the custody of moneys therein and any other matter connected with or
ancillary to the matters aforesaid.
(3) The accounts of the District Council or, as the case may be, the Regional
Council shall be kept in such form as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of
India may, with the approval of the President, prescribe.
(4) The Comptroller and Auditor-General shall cause the accounts of the District
and Regional Councils to be audited in such manner as he may think fit, and the
reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General relating to such accounts shall
be submitted to the Governor who shall cause them to be laid before the
Council.
8. Powers to assess and collect land revenue and to impose taxes.—
(1) The Regional Council for an autonomous region in respect of all lands within
such region and the District Council for an autonomous district in respect of
all lands within the district except those which are in the areas under the
authority of Regional Councils, if any, within the district, shall have the
power to assess and collect revenue in respect of such lands in accordance with
the principles for the time being followed by the Government of the State in
assessing lands for the purpose of land revenue in the State generally.
(2) The Regional Council for an autonomous region in respect of areas within
such region and the District Council for an autonomous district in respect of
all areas in the district except those which are under the authority of Regional
Councils, if any, within the district, shall have power to levy and collect
taxes on lands and buildings, and tolls on persons, resident within such areas.
(3) The District Council for an autonomous district shall have the power to levy
and collect all or any of the following taxes within such district, that is to
say—
(a) taxes on professions, trades, callings and employments;
(b) taxes on animals, vehicles and boats;
(c) taxes on the entry of goods into a market for sale therein, and tolls on
passengers and goods carried in ferries; and
(d) taxes for the maintenance of schools, dispensaries or roads.
(4) A Regional Council or District Council, as the case may be, may make
regulations to provide for levy and collection of any of the taxes specified in
sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of this paragraph and every such regulation shall be
submitted forthwith to the Governor and, until assented to by him, shall have no
effect.
39. Licences or leases for the purpose of prospecting for, or extraction of,
minerals.—
(1) Such share of the royalties accruing each year from licences or leases for
the purpose of prospecting for, or the extraction of, minerals granted by the
Government of the State in respect of any area within an autonomous district as
may be agreed upon between the Government of the State and the District Court of
such district shall be made over to that District Council.
(2) If any dispute arises as to the share of such royalties to be made over to a
District Council, it shall be referred to the Governor for determination and the
amount determined by the Governor in his discretion shall be deemed to be the
amount payable under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph to the District Council
and the decision of the Governor shall be final.
310. Power of District Council to make regulations for the control of
money-lending and trading by non-tribals.—
(1) The District Council of an autonomous district may make regulations for the
regulation and control of money-lending or trading within the district by
persons other than Scheduled Tribes resident in the district.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
power, such regulations may—
(a) prescribe that no one except the holder of a licence issued in that behalf
shall carry on the business of money-lending;
(b) prescribe the maximum rate of interest which may be charged or be recovered
by a money-lender;
(c) provide for the maintenance of accounts by money-lenders and for the
inspection of such accounts by officers appointed in that behalf by the District
Council;
(d) prescribe that no person who is not a member of the Scheduled Tribes
resident in the district shall carry on wholesale or retail business in any
commodity except under a licence issued in that behalf by the District Council:
Provided that no regulations may be made under this paragraph unless they are
passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the total membership of
the District Council:
Provided further that it shall not be competent under any such regulations to
refuse the grant of a licence to a money-lender or a trader who has been
carrying on business within the district since before the time of making of such
regulations.
(3) All regulations made under this paragraph shall be submitted forthwith to
the Governor and, until assented to by him, shall have no effect.
11. Publication of laws, rules and regulations made under the Schedule.—
All laws, rules and regulations made under this Schedule by a District Council
or a Regional Council shall be published forthwith in the Official Gazette of
the State and shall on such publication have the force of law.
112. Application of Acts of Parliament and of the Legislature of the State of
Assam to autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the State of Assam.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution—
(a) no Act of the Legislature of the State of Assam in respect of any of the
matters specified in paragraph 3 of this Schedule as matters with respect to
which a District Council or a Regional Council may make laws, and no Act of the
Legislature of the State of Assam prohibiting or restricting the consumption of
any non-distilled alcoholic liquor shall apply to any autonomous district or
autonomous region in the State unless in either case the District Council for
such district or having jurisdiction over such region by public notification so
directs, and the District Council in giving such direction with respect to any
Act may direct that the Act shall in its application to such district or region
or any part thereof have effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as
it thinks fit;
(b) the Governor may, by public notification, direct that any Act of Parliament
or of the Legislature of the State of Assam to which the provisions of clause
(a) of this sub-paragraph do not apply shall not apply to an autonomous district
or an autonomous region in that State, or shall apply to such district or region
or any part thereof subject to such exceptions or modifications as he may
specify in the notification.
(2) Any direction given under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph may be given
so as to have retrospective effect.
12A. Application of Acts of
Parliament and of the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya to autonomous
districts and autonomous regions in the State of Meghalaya.—
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—
(a) if any provision of a law made by a District or Regional Council in the
State of Meghalaya with respect to any matter specified in sub-paragraph (1) of
paragraph 3 of this Schedule or if any provision of any regulation made by a
District Council or a Regional Council in that State under paragraph 8 or
paragraph 10 of this Schedule, is repugnant to any provision of a law made by
the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya with respect to that matter, then, the
law or regulation made by the District Council or, as the case may be, the
Regional Council whether made before or after the law made by the Legislature of
the State of Meghalaya, shall, to the extent of repugnancy, be void and the law
made by the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya shall prevail;
(b) the President may, with respect to any Act of Parliament, by notification,
direct that it shall not apply to an autonomous district or an autonomous region
in the State of Meghalaya, or shall apply to such district or region or any part
thereof subject to such exceptions or modifications as he may specify in the
notification and any such direction may be given so as to have retrospective
effect.
12AA. Application of Acts of Parliament and of the Legislature of the State of
Tripura to the autonomous district and autonomous regions in the State of
Tripura.—
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution—
(a) no Act of the Legislature of the State of Tripura in respect of any of the
matters specified in paragraph 3 of this Schedule as matters with respect to
which a District Council or a Regional Council may make laws, and no Act of the
Legislature of the State of Tripura prohibiting or restricting the consumption
of any non-distilled alcoholic liquor shall apply to the autonomous district or
an autonomous region in that State unless, in either case, the District Council
for that district or having jurisdiction over such region by public notification
so directs, and the District Council in giving such direction with respect to
any Act direct that the Act shall, in its application to that district or such
region or any part thereof, have effect subject to such exceptions or
modifications as it thinks fit;
(b) the Governor may, by public notification, direct that any Act of the
Legislature of the State of Tripura to which the provisions of clause (a) of
this sub-paragraph do not apply, shall not apply to the autonomous district or
an autonomous region in that State, or shall apply to that district or such
region, or any part thereof, subject to such exceptions or modifications, as he
may specify in the notification;
(c) the President may, with respect to any Act of Parliament, by notification,
direct that it shall not apply to the autonomous district or an autonomous
region in the State of Tripura, or shall apply to such district or region or any
part thereof, subject to such exceptions or modifications as he may specify in
the notification and any such direction may be given so as to have retrospective
effect.
12B. Application of Acts of Parliament and of the Legislature of the State of
Mizoram to autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the State of Mizoram.—
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—
(a) no Act of the Legislature of the State of Mizoram in respect of any of the
matters specified in paragraph 3 of this Schedule as matters with respect to
which a District Council or a Regional Council may make laws, and no Act of
Legislature of the State of Mizoram prohibiting or restricting the consumption
of any non-distilled alcoholic liquor shall apply to any autonomous district or
autonomous region in that State unless, in either case, the District Council for
such district or having jurisdiction over such region, by public notification,
so directs, and the District Council, in giving such direction with respect to
any Act, may direct that the Act shall, in its application to such district or
region or any part thereof, have effect subject to such exceptions or
modifications as it thinks fit;
(b) the Governor may, by public notification, direct that any Act of the
Legislature of the State of Mizoram to which the provisions of clause (a) of
this sub-paragraph do not apply, shall not apply to an autonomous district or an
autonomous region in that State, or shall apply to such district or region, or
any part thereof, subject to such exceptions or modifications, as he may specify
in the notification;
(c) the President may, with respect to any Act of Parliament, by notification,
direct that it shall not apply to an autonomous district or an autonomous region
in the State of Mizoram, or shall apply to such district or region or any part
thereof, subject to such exceptions or modifications as he may specify in the
notification and any such direction may be given so as to have retrospective
effect.
13. Estimated receipts and expenditure pertaining to autonomous districts to be
shown separately in the annual financial statement.—
The estimated receipts and expenditure pertaining to an autonomous district
which are to be credited to, or is to be made from, the Consolidated Fund of the
State *** shall be first placed before the District Council for discussion and
then after such discussion be shown separately in the annual financial statement
of the State to be laid before the Legislature of the State under article 202.
14. Appointment of Commission to inquire into and report on the administration
of autonomous districts and autonomous regions.—
(1) The Governor may at any time appoint a Commission to examine and report on
any matter specified by him relating to the administration of the autonomous
districts and autonomous regions in the State, including matters specified in
clauses (c), (d), (e) and (f) of sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 1 of this
Schedule, or may appoint a Commission to inquire into and report from time to
time on the administration of autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the
State generally and in particular on—
(a) the provision of educational and medical facilities and communications in
such districts and regions;
(b) the need for any new or special legislation in respect of such districts and
regions; and
(c) the administration of the laws, rules and regulations made by the District
and Regional Councils;
and define the procedure to be followed by such Commission.
(2) The report of every such Commission with the recommendations of the Governor
with respect thereto shall be laid before the Legislature of the State by the
Minister concerned together with an explanatory memorandum regarding the action
proposed to be taken thereon by the Government of the State.
(3) In allocating the business of the Government of the State among his
Ministers the Governor may place one of his Ministers specially in charge of the
welfare of the autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the State.
15. Annulment or suspension of acts and resolutions of District and Regional
Councils.—
(1) If at any time the Governor is satisfied that an act or resolution of a
District or a Regional Council is likely to endanger the safety of India or is
likely to be prejudicial to public order, he may annul or suspend such act or
resolution and take such steps as he may consider necessary (including the
suspension of the Council and the assumption to himself of all or any of the
powers vested in or exercisable by the Council) to prevent the commission or
continuance of such act, or the giving of effect to such resolution.
(2) Any order made by the Governor under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph
together with the reasons therefor shall be laid before the Legislature of the
State as soon as possible and the order shall, unless revoked by the Legislature
of the State, continue in force for a period of twelve months from the date on
which it was so made:
Provided that if and so often as a resolution approving the continuance in force
of such order is passed by the Legislature of the State, the order shall unless
cancelled by the Governor continue in force for a further period of twelve
months from the date on which under this paragraph it would otherwise have
ceased to operate.
16. Dissolution of a District or a Regional Council.—
(1) The Governor may on the recommendation of a Commission appointed under
paragraph 14 of this Schedule by public notification order the dissolution of a
District or a Regional Council, and—
(a) direct that a fresh general election shall be held immediately for the
reconstitution of the Council, or
(b) subject to the previous approval of the Legislature of the State assume the
administration of the area under the authority of such Council himself or place
the administration of such area under the Commission appointed under the said
paragraph or any other body considered suitable by him for a period not
exceeding twelve months:
Provided that when an order under clause (a) of this paragraph has been made,
the Governor may take the action referred to in clause (b) of this paragraph
with regard to the administration of the area in question pending the
reconstitution of the Council on fresh general election:
Provided further that no action shall be taken under clause (b) of this
paragraph without giving the District or the Regional Council, as the case may
be, an opportunity of placing its views before the Legislature of the State.
(2) If at any time the Governor is satisfied that a situation has arisen in
which the administration of an autonomous district or region cannot be carried
on in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule, he may, by public
notification assume to himself all or any of the functions or powers vested in
or exercisable by the District Council or, as the case may be, the Regional
Council and declare that such functions or powers shall be exercisable by such
person or authority as he may specify in this behalf, for a period not exceeding
six months:
Provided that the Governor may by a further order or orders extend the operation
of the initial order by a period not exceeding six months on each occasion.
(3) Every order made under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph with the reasons
therefor shall be laid before the Legislature of the State and shall cease to
operate at the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the State
Legislature first sits after the issue of the orders, unless, before the expiry
of that period it has been approved by the State Legislature.
17. Exclusion of areas from autonomous districts in forming constituencies in
such districts.—
For the purposes of elections to the Legislative Assembly of Assam or Meghalaya
or Tripura or Mizoram, the Governor may by order declare that any area within an
autonomous district in the State of Assam or Meghalaya or Tripura or Mizoram, as
the case may be, shall not form part of any constituency to fill a seat or seats
in the Assembly reserved for any such district but shall form part of a
constituency to fill a seat or seats in the Assembly not so reserved to be
specified in the order.
***
19. Transitional provisions.—
(1) As soon as possible after the commencement of this Constitution the Governor
shall take steps for the constitution of a District Council for each autonomous
district in the State under this Schedule and, until a District Council is so
constituted for an autonomous district, the administration of such district
shall be vested in the Governor and the following provisions shall apply to the
administration of the areas within such district instead of the foregoing
provisions of this Schedule, namely:—
(a) no Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State shall apply to any
such area unless the Governor by public notification so directs; and the
Governor in giving such a direction with respect to any Act may direct that the
Act shall, in its application to the area or to any specified part thereof, have
effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as he thinks fit;
(b) the Governor may make regulations for the peace and good government of any
such area and any regulations so made may repeal or amend any Act of Parliament
or of the Legislature of the State or any existing law which is for the time
being applicable to such area.
(2) Any direction given by the Governor under clause (a) of sub-paragraph (1) of
this paragraph may be given so as to have retrospective effect.
(3) All regulations made under clause (b) of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph
shall be submitted forthwith to the President and, until assented to by him,
shall have no effect.
20. Tribal areas.—
(1) The areas specified in Parts I, II ,IIA and III of the table below shall
respectively be the tribal areas within the State of Assam, the State of
Meghalaya , the State of Tripura and the State of Mizoram.
(2) Any reference in Part I, Part II or Part III of the table below to any
district shall be construed as a reference to the territories comprised within
the autonomous district of that name existing immediately before the day
appointed under clause (b) of section 2 of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation)
Act, 1971:
Provided that for the purposes of clauses (e) and (f) of sub-paragraph (1) of
paragraph 3, paragraph 4, paragraph 5, paragraph 6, sub-paragraph (2), clauses
(a), (b), and (d) of sub-paragraph (3) and sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 8 and
clause (d) of sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 10 of this Schedule, no part of the
area comprised within the municipality of Shillong shall be deemed to be within
the Khasi Hills District.
(3) The reference in Part IIA in the table below to the ‘Tripura Tribal Areas
District’ shall be construed as a reference to the territory comprising the
tribal areas specified in the First Schedule to the Tripura Tribal Areas
Autonomous District Council Act, 1979.
TABLE
PART I
1. The North Cachar Hills District.
2. The Karbi Anglong District.
PART II
1. Khasi Hills District.
2. Jaintia Hills District.
3. The Garo Hills District.
PART IIA
Tripura Tribal Areas District.
PART III
***
1. The Chakma District.
2. The Mara District.
3. The Lai District.
20A. Dissolution of the Mizo District Council.—
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Schedule, the District Council of the Mizo
District existing immediately before the prescribed date (hereinafter referred
to as the Mizo District Council) shall stand dissolved and cease to exist.
(2) The Administrator of the Union territory of Mizoram may, by one or more
orders, provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) the transfer, in whole or in part, of the assets, rights and liabilities of
the Mizo District Council (including the rights and liabilities under any
contract made by it) to the Union or to any other authority;
(b) the substitution of the Union or any other authority for the Mizo District
Council, or the addition of the Union or any other authority, as a party to any
legal proceedings to which the Mizo District Council is a party;
(c) the transfer or re-employment of any employees of the Mizo District Council
to or by the Union or any other authority, the terms and conditions of service
applicable to such employees after such transfer or re-employment;
(d) the continuance of any laws, made by the Mizo District Council and in force
immediately before its dissolution, subject to such adaptations and
modifications, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as the Administrator may
make in this behalf, until such laws are altered, repealed or amended by a
competent Legislature or other competent authority;
(e) such incidental, consequential and supplementary matters as the
Administrator considers necessary.
Explanation.—In this paragraph and in paragraph 20B of this Schedule, the
expression ‘prescribed date’ means the date on which the Legislative Assembly of
the Union territory of Mizoram is duly constituted under and in accordance with
the provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963.
20B. Autonomous regions in the Union territory of Mizoram to be autonomous
districts and transitory provisions consequent thereto.—
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Schedule,—
(a) every autonomous region existing immediately before the prescribed date in
the Union territory of Mizoram shall, on and from that date, be an autonomous
district in that Union territory (hereafter referred to as the corresponding new
district) and the Administrator thereof may, by one or more orders, direct that
such consequential amendments as are necessary to give effect to the provisions
of this clause shall be made in paragraph 20 of this Schedule (including Part
III of the table appended to that paragraph) and thereupon the said paragraph
and the said Part III shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly;
(b) every Regional Council of an autonomous region in the Union territory of
Mizoram existing immediately before the prescribed date (hereafter referred to
as the existing Regional Council) shall, on and from that date and until a
District Council is duly constituted for the corresponding new district, be
deemed to be the District Council of that district (hereafter referred to as the
corresponding new District Council).
(2) Every member whether elected or nominated of an existing Regional Council
shall be deemed to have been elected or, as the case may be, nominated to the
corresponding new District Council and shall hold office until a District
Council is duly constituted for the corresponding new district under this
Schedule.
(3) Until rules are made under sub-paragraph (7) of paragraph 2 and
sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 4 of this Schedule by the corresponding new
District Council, the rules made under the said provisions by the existing
Regional Council and in force immediately before the prescribed date shall have
effect in relation to the corresponding new District Council subject to such
adaptations and modifications as may be made therein by the Administrator of the
Union territory of Mizoram.
(4) The Administrator of the Union territory of Mizoram may, by one or more
orders, provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) the transfer in whole or in part of the assets, rights and liabilities of
the existing Regional Council (including the rights and liabilities under any
contract made by it) to the corresponding new District Council;
(b) the substitution of the corresponding new District Council for the existing
Regional Council as a party to the legal proceedings to which the existing
Regional Council is a party;
(c) the transfer or re-employment of any employees of the existing Regional
Council to or by the corresponding new District Council, the terms and
conditions of service applicable to such employees after such transfer or
re-employment;
(d) the continuance of any laws made by the existing Regional Council and in
force immediately before the prescribed date, subject to such adaptations and
modifications, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as the Administrator may
make in this behalf until such laws are altered, repealed or amended by a
competent Legislature or other competent authority;
(e) such incidental, consequential and supplementary matters as the
Administrator considers necessary.
20C. Interpretation.—
Subject to any provision made in this behalf, the provisions of this Schedule
shall, in their application to the Union territory of Mizoram, have effect—
(1) as if references to the Governor and Government of the State were references
to the Administrator of the Union territory appointed under article 239,
references to State (except in the expression ‘Government of the State’) were
references to the Union territory of Mizoram and references to the State
Legislature were references to the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory
of Mizoram;
(2) as if—
(a) in sub-paragraph (5) of paragraph 4, the provision for consultation with the
Government of the State concerned had been omitted;
(b) in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 6, for the words ‘to which the executive
power of the State extends’, the words ‘with respect to which the Legislative
Assembly of the Union territory of Mizoram has power to make laws’ had been
substituted;
(c) in paragraph 13, the words and figures ‘under article 202’ had been
omitted.
21. Amendment of the Schedule.—
(1) Parliament may from time to time by law amend by way of addition, variation
or repeal any of the provisions of this Schedule and, when the Schedule is so
amended, any reference to this Schedule in this Constitution shall be construed
as a reference to such Schedule as so amended.
(2) No such law as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall be
deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368.
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