In Assam’s tribal-majority Diphu Lok Sabha constituency, candidates of all parties have promised the implementation of Article 244(A) of the Constitution to create an autonomous ‘state within a state’.
Key facts
- Article 244(A) was inserted by The Constitution (22nd Amendment) Act, 1969. It enabled Parliament to pass an Act to “form within the State of Assam an autonomous State comprising (whether wholly or in part) all or any of tribal areas”, including Karbi Anglong.
- This autonomous state would have its own Legislature or Council of Ministers or both.
- This provision goes a step further than the provisions under the Sixth Schedule, which are already in place in these areas.
- The autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule have elected representatives for more decentralised governance of these tribal areas, but they have limited legislative powers, do not have control over law and order, and have only limited financial powers.
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