Shillong, Feb. 3 -- A recent demand by the Sarvadaliya Sammelan, a minority body, for a separate electoral roll for non-tribals in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Meghalaya has been met with strong opposition.

Social activist Cherian Momin termed the demand as a blatant attempt to subvert the constitutional safeguards provided under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution towards the Scheduled Tribes.

Momin stated that the GHADC is a constitutionally mandated autonomous institution, established to ensure self-governance and self-determination for the indigenous Garo people.

He added that any effort to restructure its electoral framework in favour of non-tribals would be an assault on the constitutional sovereignty of...