Section 244A. was added to the Constitution by the Constitution (Twenty-Second Amendment) Act, 1969 to enable Par

Article 244A was added to the Constitution by the Constitution (Twenty-Second Amendment) Act, 1969 to enable Parliament to enact a law to give effect to the scheme for reorganisation of Assam by forming within the State of Assam an autonomous State comprising (whether wholly or in part) all or any of the tribal areas specified in Part A of the table appended to paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule. The present Bill has been brought forward in pursuance of that article and seeks to establish an autonomous State called Meghalaya within the State of Assam. As envisaged in the reorganisation scheme, Meghalaya will comprise the areas now forming part of the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District as defined in the substantive part of paragraph 20(2) of the Sixth Schedule and the Garo Hills District. The Bill also provides for separate options to the Mikir Hills autonomous district and the North Cachar Hills autonomous district to become part of Meghalaya. The legislative powers of Meghalaya have been set out in the Second Schedule to the Bill and subject to the Provisions of the Bill the executive power of Meghalaya will extend to matters with respect to which the legislature of Meghalaya shall have power to make laws. The Bill makes detailed provisions regarding the constitution of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya, delimitation of constituencies, elections to the Assembly and its procedure, Council of Ministers for Meghalaya, administrative relations between the Governments of Assam and Meghalaya and between the Central Government and the Government of Meghalaya. Provision has also been made for transferring to Meghalaya such assets and liabilities of the Assam Government in the Meghalaya area as are relatable to matters which fall within the purview of the autonomous State.