Indian Government has in principle agreed to strengthen Sixth Schedule Councils: Pramod Boro

Government of India supports strengthening Sixth Schedule autonomous councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura through Constitutional Amendment Bill.

The Government of India has in principle agreed to the idea of strengthening Sixth Schedule autonomous councils across Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura through the Constitution (125th) Amendment Bill, Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Pramod Boro told The Hindu on Tuesday (January 28, 2025) even as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Assam government is supporting this amendment, adding that he is “hopeful of seeing something positive” this upcoming Budget Session.

The Amendment Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha in February 2019, following which it was referred to the Departmental-Related Standing Committee on Home Affairs, which had flagged multiple issues with it in a 2020 report. The Bill, which aims to provide more financial, executive, and administrative powers to the councils by amending Article 280 of the Constitution of India, has been pending since then.

In July last year, Mr. Boro led a delegation of the chiefs of all 10 autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule – three each in Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram and one in Tripura – to meet with Home Minister Amit Shah over the issues stalling the Bill. The council chiefs were assured that a committee headed by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai would examine the issues.

After several rounds of discussions with all the councils and stakeholders with this committee, Mr. Boro said, “The government had already agreed to several aspects of the changes we proposed such as increasing the number of seats in the councils, election to village councils, bringing in anti-defection law. What remains, however, is the Article 280 and bringing the councils under its ambit.” 

The 125th Constitution Amendment Bill aims to enable the Finance Commission to recommend measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of the Sixth Schedule States, with the goal of supplementing resources of Sixth Scheduled Autonomous Councils, Village Councils, and Municipal Councils.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Boro said, “If Article 280 is granted for Councils, they will have same power as the State. There may be some rethinking on this. Otherwise, Government of India has agreed that the councils should be strengthened, and more power should be given to the councils – in principle.” 

Mr. Boro hinted that there may be another hiccup as well with regards to the provisions of bringing in Village Council elections, which also seeks to introduce reservations for women. “Some hill councils have raised an issue that this may interfere with their customary practices. But we have held discussion explaining how important VC elections are to get the Article 280 funds so these are also getting resolved.”