Recently, in Assam’s predominantly tribal Diphu Lok Sabha constituency, candidates from all political parties have pledged to implement Article 244(A) of the Constitution, aiming to establish an autonomous ‘state within a state’.
The demand for autonomy in the region dates back to the 1950s movement for a separate hill state. Despite the creation of Meghalaya in 1972, leaders of the Karbi Anglong region opted to remain with Assam, hoping for autonomy through Article 244(A)
Article 244(A) of the Indian Constitution
- Article 244 in Part X of the Constitution envisages a special system of administration for certain areas designated as ’scheduled areas’ and ‘tribal areas.
- Article 244(A) was added to the Constitution through the Twenty-second Amendment Act in 1969.
- It allows Parliament to enact a law to establish an autonomous state within the State of Assam comprising all or some of the tribal areas specified in the Sixth
Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution
- It covers provisions relating to the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
- Autonomous Districts: Tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram are governed as autonomous districts but remain under the state’s executive authority.
- The governor holds the power to reorganize these districts, including adjusting their boundaries, names, and even dividing them into multiple autonomous regions if there are diverse tribal populations.
- Acts of Parliament or state legislature might not apply directly to these districts unless adapted with specified modifications.
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