Governor’s Rule in Autonomous District Council (ADC)
Context:
The Governor of Mizoram recently extended the "Governor's Rule" in the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) for a period of six months.
This decision was taken despite the State Council of Ministers arguing there was no justification for the extension
Constitutional Basis:
The ADCs are established under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution
The schedule deals with the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
The specific power exercised by the Governor is derived from Para 16(2) read with Para 20 BB of the Sixth Schedule.
Grounds for Imposition:
The Governor can assume the administration of an ADC if they are satisfied that the administration cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Sixth Schedule.
In this specific case, the Governor cited "constant political instability" as the primary reason.
He noted that frequent changes in leadership (removal of the Chief Executive Member) were detrimental to the effective administration envisioned by the Constitution.
Effect of the Order:
Upon invoking this power, the Governor assumes all functions or powers vested in the District Council.
These powers are often delegated
In the CADC instance, the Deputy Commissioner of Lawngtlai District was appointed to exercise these functions on the Governor's behalf.
Conflict:
The imposition can lead to friction between the Raj Bhavan and the elected State Government.
Here, the Mizoram Council of Ministers opposed the move, stating the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) enjoyed a clear majority.