(The Gist of PIB) Finance Commission hold meeting with representatives of Autonomous Development Councils (ADCs) of Meghalaya [JUNE-2019]

Finance Commission hold meeting with representatives of Autonomous Development Councils (ADCs) of Meghalaya

The 15th Finance Commission headed by its Chairman, Shri N.K. Singh as part of its visit to the State of Meghalaya today held a meeting with the representatives of the Autonomous Development Councils of Meghalaya.
There are 3 Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Meghalaya namely the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council.

Article 243M (1) of the Indian constitution made special provision that nothing in the part IX of the constitutions (provisions for creating Panchayat) shall apply to the Scheduled Areas referred to in clause (1), and the tribal areas referred to in clause (2), of the Article 244.
The Sixth Schedule makes provision that these tribal areas will be autonomous districts and be governed by Autonomous District Councils 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, constitution of village courts, to undertake development works like constructions of roads, waterways etc.

The main Revenue Sources of ADCs as specified by Paragraph 8 of the Sixth Schedule were:
taxes on professions, trades, callings and employment;
taxes on animal, 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 school, dispensaries or roads.