AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT COUNCILS (ADCs)

About: 

• Constitutional provisions: 
  • According to Article 243M (1) of the constitution, nothing in the part IX of the constitutions (provisions for creating Panchayat) shall apply to the Scheduled Areas referred to in clause (1), and the tribal areas referred to in clause (2), of the Article 244. 
    
    
  • The Sixth Schedule makes provision that these tribal areas will be autonomous districts and be governed by Autonomous District Councils. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Tenure: Term of the District Councils is for five years from the date of their constitution. 
  
  
• Governance: The autonomous district council is governed by an Executive Committee. 
  
  
• Functions: The functions of ADCs as defined in schedule 6 of the constitution included – 
  • making laws on land, 
    
    
  • management of forests, except reserved forests, 
    
    
  • appointment of traditional chiefs and headmen, 
    
    
  • making rules regulating the inheritance of property, marriage, divorce, constitution of village courts, 
    
    
  • to undertake development works like constructions of roads, waterways etc. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Revenue source: The main Revenue Sources of ADCs as specified in the Sixth Schedule were:
  • taxes on professions, trades, callings and employment;
    
    
  • taxes on animal, vehicles and boats;
    
    
  • taxes on the entry of goods into a market and sale therein, and tolls on passenger and goods carried on ferries; and
    
    
  • taxes for the maintenance of school, dispensaries or roads.
    
    
  
  
  
• There are 3 Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Meghalaya namely the Khasi Hills ADC, the Garo Hills ADC and the Jaintia Hills ADC.