SHILLONG, MAR 24: The Garo Students Union (GSU) has appealed to Meghalaya Governor C.H. Vijayashankar to intervene in making Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates mandatory for both voters and candidates in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.

Addressing media persons after meeting the Governor on Tuesday, GSU president Tengsak G Momin said the delegation raised a single, focused demand. “We met the Governor on one point only: making ST certificates mandatory for voting and contesting in GHADC elections,” he stated.

The union also proposed amendments to existing provisions, including Rule 128, to incorporate the term “indigenous scheduled tribes of Garo Hills.” Additionally, the GSU urged a review of Para 12A of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, arguing that its current interpretation allows undue interference by the state government in district council matters.

In a memorandum submitted to the Governor, the GSU maintained that allowing non-tribals to vote and contest in GHADC elections undermines the constitutional intent of the Sixth Schedule, which is designed to safeguard tribal identity, land, and cultural practices.

“The anomaly ensures dilution of the inviolable protective provisions of the Sixth Schedule,” Momin said.

He further informed that the issue of amending Para 12A has been under discussion with other organisations, including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), in previous consultations.

According to Momin, the Governor responded positively to the concerns raised and indicated that the matter has also been discussed with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. The Governor also referred to the possibility of undertaking a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls prior to the GHADC elections.

The GSU expressed hope that necessary steps would be taken to ensure that only eligible tribal voters and candidates participate in the GHADC electoral process.