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Autonomous administrative divisions of India

Autonomous councils in India
Autonomous councils in North East India

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India allows for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions which have been given autonomy within their respective states.[1] Most of these autonomous district councils are located in North East India with the exception of two in Ladakh and one in West Bengal. Presently, 10 Autonomous Councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura are formed by virtue of the Sixth Schedule[2] with the rest being formed as a result of other legislation.

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]

List of autonomous administrative divisions

Autonomous district councils operating under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India are shown in bold.



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[7] 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.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "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. ^ "BJP sweeps Assam tribal council elections". The Hindu. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Autonomous District Councils Manipur in brief By Haokholal Hangshing". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  5. ^ "MCS, MPS officers transferred : 16th jul22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  6. ^ "ECI". Archived from the original on 27 September 2021.
  7. ^ The Sentineli Archived March 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ^ "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.

External links