constituent assembly of india debates (proceedings)- volume vii

10. The district council shall be an elected body with not less than 20 or more than 40 members of
whom not less than three-fourths shall be elected by universal adult franchise. Separate constituencies
to be formed for separate tribes, with a population of not less than 500. Non-tribal residents of
autonomous districts, if their population is not below 500, may be formed into a separate constituency
for election to the district council [Para. *27 and Sec. B(1) & (2) of App. A of Assam Report]*.
11. In matters relating to land (provinces other than Assam), social customs and village
management, if the Tribes Advisory Council advises that any law passed by the provincial legislature
should not be applied to a scheduled area the Provincial Government shall direct accordingly. The
Provincial Government shall have powers to direct that any other legislation shall not apply to the
scheduled areas on the advice of the Council *[Para. *9 & 10 and Sec. E of App. C of Other Than Assam
Sub-Committee Report]*.
In the case of Assam legislation on these matters is left to the district council and provincial laws will
not apply unless the district council applies them with or without modifications. Legislation prohibiting
the consumption of non-distilled liquors will also not apply unless the district council applies it [Para. *17
& Sec. L of App. A of Assam Sub-Committee Report]*.
12. If the Tribes Advisory Council so advises, moneylenders in scheduled areas should not be
permitted to carry on business except under a licence [Para. *26 & Sec. G of App. C of Other Than
Assam Sub-Committee Interim Report]*.
In Assam the district council should have powers to take action to license moneylenders and nontribal
traders if the rules are approved by a majority of three-fourths of their members; this is to prevent
the practice of the seprofessions by non-tribals in a manner detrimental to the interests of tribals *[Para.
*15 and Sec. J of App. of Assam Sub-Committee Report]*.
13. Allotment of waste land in a scheduled area should not be made to non-aboriginals except in
accordance with rules made by the Provincial Government in consultation with the Tribes Advisory
Council *[Para. *25 and Sec. F of App. C of Other Than Assam Sub-Committee Report]*.
14. Mineral resources in the autonomous districts of Assam will be managed by the Provincial
Government but the district councils will be entitled to a share of the revenue. Licences or leases shall
not be given out except in consultation with the district council [Para. *16 and Sec. I of App. A of Assam
Report]*.
15. The Governor of Assam should be empowered to set aside any act or resolution of a district
council if the safety of the country is prejudiced; he should also have powers to dissolve a council if gross
mismanagement is reported by the commission [Para. *19 and Sec. Q & R of App. A of Assam Sub-
Committee Report]*.
In provinces other than Assam the Governor should have the special responsibility to see that
schemes of development are drawn up and implemented. This should be enjoyed on him by instructions
[Para. *18 of Other Than Assam Report]*.
16. The Central Government should continue to administer the frontier tracts and tribal area with the
Government of Assam as its agent until administration has been satisfactorily established over a
sufficiently wide area. Areas over which administration has been satisfactorily established may be taken
over with the approval of the Federal Government [Section *P of App. A and Para. 20 (a) of Assam Sub-
Committee Report]*.