About Autonomous District Councils (ADC):
- The Sixth Schedule provides a list of ten tribal areas in Assam (3), Meghalaya (3), Tripura (1) and Mizoram (3).
- Each of these tribal areas constitutes an autonomous district. Each autonomous district has an Autonomous District Council (ADC).
- Membership: ADCs have up to 30 members with a term of five years, of whom four are nominated by the governor and the remaining 26 are elected on the basis of adult franchise.
- Tenure: The term of the District Councils is for five years from the date of their constitution.
- 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, the constitution of village courts,
- It can establish, construct or manage primary schools, dispensaries, markets, ferries, fisheries, roads and so on in the district.
- It can also make regulations for the control of money lending and trading by non-tribals. But such regulations require the assent of the governor.
- Revenue source: The main Revenue Sources of ADCs, as specified in the Sixth Schedule, were:
- taxes on professions, trades, callings and employment;
- taxes on animals, 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 schools, dispensaries or roads.
