Shillong, Sept 1: The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) has voiced strong reservations over the recent announcement by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma that the state government will take responsibility for paying the salaries of employees of the three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).

In a statement issued by its Central Executive Committee, JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh questioned the legal and constitutional basis of the move, pointing out that the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution does not appear to provide any provision empowering the state government to directly disburse ADC employees’ salaries. The council warned that the decision could undermine the autonomy of the ADCs.

The JNC argued that if the state assumes responsibility for salaries, it raises doubts about whether ADC staff would be regarded as council employees or absorbed as state employees. It further questioned whether future appointments in the councils would require state approval, thereby reducing the role of elected Members of District Councils (MDCs) to mere extensions of the state government.

The council also sought clarification on whether the salaries would be adjusted against revenues generated by the ADCs from sources such as minerals, transport, and forestry, and whether professional tax collection remains the prerogative of the councils. Most importantly, it asked the government to explain where it will source the funds to sustain salary payments for all three councils.

As a way forward, the JNC suggested that ADCs must focus on strengthening their own financial resources, limit appointments to what they can sustain, and demand transparency from the state government regarding revenues generated from minerals, transport, and forestry, along with a fair share of these earnings for the councils.

“The ultimate goal must be to safeguard the constitutional spirit of the Sixth Schedule and protect the autonomy of the ADCs,” the statement concluded.