Shillong, Sept 30: Elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) will now be held on a separate tribal-only electoral roll with non-tribals excluded, after Governor CH Vijayashankar gave his approval to the amendment to the council poll rules.
Official sources said the Governor approved the amendment on Tuesday, September 29.
Following the assent, the Meghalaya government on Wednesday notified the GHADC (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 in the state Gazette.
The notification brings into effect amendments to the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951.
Under the amended framework, Rule 8 makes Scheduled Tribe status a mandatory qualification for contesting GHADC elections, Rule 128 prescribes ST criterion for voters, and Rule 129 provides for preparation of a separate electoral roll for the council — doing away with the practice of using the Assembly electoral roll.
The move was set in motion after the GHADC passed the amendment bill on August 10, after getting the Governor’s approval on August 6 to introduce it in the House. An earlier amendment to Rule 8 was passed by the council on March 23 this year.
The amendments follow the Meghalaya High Court striking down an earlier executive notification of the GHADC that had sought to make ST certificate mandatory for candidates, on the ground that it has to be done through the rule-making process. The Council had in May 2025 formed a committee to examine election provisions and creation of a separate roll.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting indigenous rights, stating that governance and policymaking must remain accountable to the communities they are meant to serve.
With the term of the current GHADC extended till October 18 after polls due in April 2026 were postponed due to unrest in Garo Hills, the preparation of the new separate roll will now decide the timeline for the next council election.
