Autonomous administrative divisions of India

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Autonomous councils in India Autonomous divisions of India.svg
Autonomous councils in India
Autonomous councils in North East India NE Autonomous divisions of India.svg
Autonomous councils in North East India

In India, there are autonomously administered territories for Scheduled Tribes, administered by representatives of those tribes. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India allows for the formation of Autonomous District Councils and Autonomous Regional Councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, granting them autonomy within their respective territories. Currently, there are 10 Autonomous District Councils across these four states. In these areas, Acts of Parliament and state legislation do not apply. [1] [2]

Contents

Additionally, other autonomous councils, created by individual states through state legislation, exist in Northeast India, Ladakh, and West Bengal. Unlike those under the Sixth Schedule, these councils are subject to parliamentary and state laws.[ citation needed ]

Powers and competencies

Executive and legislative powers

Under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, autonomous district councils can make laws, rules and regulations in the following areas: [1]

Judicial powers

Autonomous district councils have powers to form courts to hear cases where both parties are members of Scheduled Tribes and the maximum sentence is less than 5 years in prison. [1]

Taxation and revenue

Autonomous district councils have powers to levy taxes, fees and tolls on: building and land, animals, vehicles, boats, entry of goods into the area, roads, ferries, bridges, employment and income and general taxes for the maintenance of schools and roads. [1]

Constitutional autonomous councils

There are 10 Autonomous District Councils created by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India:

StateAutonomous District CouncilHeadquartersFormationLast ElectionRuling Party
Assam Bodoland Territorial Council Kokrajhar 20032025 BPF
Dima Hasao Autonomous Council Haflong 19522024 BJP
Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Diphu 19522022 BJP
Meghalaya Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Tura 19732021 NPP
Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council Jowai 19732025 NPP
Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Shillong 19732025 VPP
Mizoram Chakma Autonomous District Council Kamalanagar 19722023 BJP
Lai Autonomous District Council Lawngtlai 19722020 BJP
Mara Autonomous District Council Siaha 19722022 BJP
Tripura Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Khumulwng 19822021 TMP

Statutory autonomous councils

Some states have created autonomous councils by an Act of their state legislatures. The two autonomous councils in the union territory of Ladakh was created by the state of Jammu and Kashmir (1952 – 2019).

State/UTAutonomous CouncilHeadquartersFormationLast ElectionRuling Party
Assam Tiwa Autonomous Council Morigaon 19952021 BJP
Mising Autonomous Council Dhemaji 19952019 SGS
Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Dudhnoi 19952025 RHJM
Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council Dibrugarh 2005
Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council Titabar 20052022 BJP
Deori Autonomous Council Narayanpur 20052022 BJP
Moran Autonomous Council Tinsukia 2020
Matak Autonomous Council Chring Gaon2020
Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council Simen Chapori2020
Kamtapur Autonomous Council Abhayapuri 2020
Manipur Chandel Autonomous District Council Chandel 1971 [3]
Churachandpur Autonomous District Council Churachandpur 1971 [3]
Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council Kangpokpi 1971 [3]
Manipur North Autonomous District Council Senapati 1971 [3]
Tamenglong Autonomous District Council Tamenglong 1971 [3]
Ukhrul Autonomous District Council Ukhrul 1971 [3]
Ladakh Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil Kargil 20032023 JKNC
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh Leh 19952020 BJP
West Bengal Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Darjeeling 20122022 BGPM

De facto self-governing areas

North Sentinel Island

North Sentinel Island is situated in the island chain of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which is a union territory of India. It is home to the Sentinelese people, who are among some of the world's last uncontacted peoples. They reject any contact with other people and are among the last people to remain virtually untouched by modern civilization. There has never been any treaty with the people of the island nor any record of a physical occupation.

The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has stated [4] that they have no intention of interfering with the Sentinelese's lifestyle or habitat. Although the island is likely to have suffered seriously from the effects of the December 2004 tsunami, the survival of the Sentinelese was confirmed when, some days after the event, an Indian government helicopter observed several of them, who shot arrows at the hovering aircraft to repel it.

Although this has not been done with any formal treaty, the official policy of minimal interference has ensured that they have de facto autonomy and sovereignty over their island under the framework of the central and local governments. [5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sixth Schedule of The Constitution of India" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Union Cabinet approves amendment in Sixth Schedule to strengthen 10 North East autonomous councils". 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Autonomous District Councils Manipur in brief By Haokholal Hangshing". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  4. ↑ The Sentineli Archived 2 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine .
  5. ↑ "Administration in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands has finally decided upon a policy of minimal interference". Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
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