Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan gave his assent to a bill passed by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) aimed at empowering tribal village councils and their heads, whose powers and function were questioned by the Meghalaya High Court last year.
The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District (Establishment of Elaka and Village and Election, Appointment, Powers, functions, and jurisdiction of Dolloi, Sirdar, Waheh Shnong) Bill, 2015 was passed by the Council earlier this year.
“The bill has been approved by the Governor,” Governor’s Principal Secretary M S Rao told PTI.
He said, “We have sent back the bill to the District Council Affairs (DCA) department with the assent of the Governor.”
This is the second time that the bill was sent to the Governor and necessary modifications in the bill were made to suit the administration.
JHADC chief executive member Thombor Shiwat expressed happiness over the Governor’s assent to the bill.
“The Governor’s assent could not have come at an appropriate time other than before Christmas. I, on behalf of the Council, express our gratitude to him,” he said.
Of the three tribal councils, only the bill passed by the JHADC has the Governor’s assent on village administration.