Shillong: Elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) will now be conducted using a separate electoral roll exclusively for Scheduled Tribe (ST) voters, with non-tribals excluded, following Governor CH Vijayashankar’s assent to amendments to the council’s election rules.
Official sources said the Governor approved the amendment on Tuesday, September 29. The Meghalaya Government subsequently will notify the GHADC (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 in the State Gazette later on Wednesday, September 30.
The notification gives effect to amendments to the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951.
Under the amended rules, Rule 8 makes ST status a mandatory qualification for contesting GHADC elections, while Rule 128 prescribes ST status as a criterion for voters. Rule 129 provides for a separate electoral roll for council elections, replacing the practice of using the Assembly electoral roll.
The amendment process began after the GHADC passed the amendment Bill on August 10, following the Governor’s approval on August 6 for its introduction in the House. The Council had earlier passed an amendment to Rule 8 on March 23 this year.
The changes follow a Meghalaya High Court ruling that struck down an earlier executive notification of the GHADC making an ST certificate mandatory for candidates, holding that such a requirement had to be introduced through the rule-making process. In May 2025, the Council had constituted a committee to examine election provisions and the creation of a separate electoral roll.
The current GHADC’s term has been extended until October 18, after elections scheduled for April 2026 were postponed following unrest in the Garo Hills.
With the amended rules now notified, the preparation of the separate electoral roll will be a key factor in determining the timeline for the next GHADC election.
