HYC to organize consultation on Article 371

Newmai News Network

Shillong | September 15

 

The Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has announced its decision to organize a consultative meeting on Article 371 of the Constitution of India and its applicability in Meghalaya.

 

This was announced by the president of the HYC, Robertjune Kharjahrin on September 15 where he said that the Council will invite the academia, lawyers, politicians, leaders of NGOs and leaders of traditional bodies to discuss the important issue.

 

“It has been said that the implementation of Article 371 will mean the end of 244(2) and the Sixth Schedule," Kharjahrin said while pointing out that this is a misconception.

 

To justify this, Kharjahrin pointed out that Mizoram and Assam are covered under Article 371 in spite of which there are district councils in these two states.

 

Kharjahrin also said that there is a misconception that the Sixth Schedule speaks about the powers of the district council while Article 371 empowers the state.

 

While pointing out that there are various forms in which Article 371 has been implemented, Kharjahrin said that if this Article is implemented in Meghalaya, it has to be in a manner which strengthens the Sixth Schedule while also empowering the state.

 

“The HYC will not accept any implementation of Article 371 in Meghalaya if it means the dissolution of the district councils. We will only accept a form of this Article which provides for the strengthening of the Sixth Schedule and the state,” Kharjahrin reiterated.

 

Stating that a number of actions taken on the part of the Central government such as the removal of Article 35(A) and Article 370, the morphing of Jammu & Kashmir into a Union territory, the determination of the Bharatiya Janata Party to introduce the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), the Uniform Civil Code, the Forest Act to name a few are a danger to the indigenous people of Meghalaya, Kharjarin stressed the importance of this proposed consultative meet.