constituent assembly of india debates (proceedings)- volume vii
constituent assembly of india debates (proceedings)- volume vii
constituent assembly of india debates (proceedings)- volume vii
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District Councils should be set up in the Hill Districts (see Section B <strong>of</strong> Appendix A) with powers <strong>of</strong><br />
legislation over occupation or use <strong>of</strong> land other than land comprising reserved forest under the Assam<br />
Forest Regulation <strong>of</strong> 1891 or other law applicable. This is subject to the proviso that no payment would<br />
be required for the occupation <strong>of</strong> vacant land by the Provincial Government for public purposes and<br />
private land required for public purposes by the Provincial Government will be acquired for it on payment<br />
<strong>of</strong> compensation [Para. *9 - Section C (1) Appendix A.]*<br />
2. Reserved forests will be managed by the Provincial Government in questions <strong>of</strong> actual<br />
management including the appointment <strong>of</strong> forest staff and the granting <strong>of</strong> contracts and leases, the<br />
susceptibilities and the legitimate desires and needs <strong>of</strong> the Hill People should be taken into account<br />
[Para. *10]*.<br />
3. On account <strong>of</strong> its disastrous effects upon the forest, rainfall and other climatic features, jhuming<br />
should be discouraged and stopped wherever possible but the initiative for this should come from the<br />
tribes themselves and the control <strong>of</strong> jhuming should be left to the local councils [Para. *11 and Section C<br />
<strong>of</strong> Appendix A]*.<br />
4. All social law and custom is left to be controlled or regulated by the tribes. [Para. *12 and Section<br />
C (2) <strong>of</strong> appendix A]. All criminal <strong>of</strong>fences except those punishable with death, transportation or<br />
imprisonment for five years and upwards should be left to be dealt with in accordance with local practice<br />
and the Code <strong>of</strong> Criminal Procedure will not apply to such cases. As regards the serious <strong>of</strong>fences<br />
punishable with imprisonment <strong>of</strong> five years or more they should be tried henceforth regularly under the<br />
Criminal Procedure Code. To try such cases, powers should be conferred by the Provincial Government<br />
wherever suitable upon tribal councils or courts set up by the district councils themselves.<br />
All ordinary civil suits should be disposed <strong>of</strong> by tribal courts and local councils may have full powers<br />
to deal with them including appeal and revision.<br />
Where non-tribals are involved, civil or criminal cases should be tried under the regular law and the<br />
Provincial Government should make suitable arrangements for the expeditious disposal <strong>of</strong> such cases by<br />
employing circuit magistrates or judges. [Para. *12 - Section D & F <strong>of</strong> Appendix A].*<br />
5. The District Councils should have powers <strong>of</strong> management over primary schools, dispensaries and<br />
other institutions which normally come under the scope <strong>of</strong> local self-governing institutions in the plains.<br />
They should have full control over primary education. As regards secondary school education, there<br />
should be some integration with the general system <strong>of</strong> the province and it is left open to the provincial<br />
Government to entrust local councils with responsibility for secondary schools wherever they find this<br />
suitable. [Para. *13 and Section E <strong>of</strong> Appendix A].*<br />
For the Mikir and North Cachar Hills the District or Sub Divisional province and it is left open to the<br />
provincial Government to entrust local councils with powers, subject to the control <strong>of</strong> the Government <strong>of</strong><br />
Assam, to modify or annul resolutions or decisions <strong>of</strong> the local councils and to issue such instructions as<br />
may be necessary. [Para. *13 and Section B (5) <strong>of</strong> Appendix A]*.<br />
6. Certain taxes and financial powers should be allocated to the councils. They should have all the<br />
powers which local bodies in regulation districts enjoy and in addition they should have powers to impose<br />
house tax or poll tax, land revenue and levies arising out <strong>of</strong> the powers <strong>of</strong> management <strong>of</strong> village forest.<br />
[Section *H <strong>of</strong> Appendix A and Para. 14 (a)]*.<br />
Statutory provision for a fixed proportion <strong>of</strong> provincial funds to be spent on the hill districts is not<br />
considered practicable. A separate financial statement for each hill district showing the revenue derived