Assam Governor Directs Delimitation of Tiwa Autonomous Council Constituencies

The Governor of Assam issued a Notification on December 9, 2025, designating the District Commissioner, Morigaon, as the Authorized Officer for determining the territorial limits of constituencies within the Tiwa Autonomous Council. This directive, identified as Notification E 340223/345, was published in The Assam Gazette Extraordinary and came into force immediately upon its issuance. The notification was necessitated by the provisions of the Tiwa Autonomous Council Act, 1995, as amended, which mandates the establishment of a General Council and the delimitation of its electoral constituencies.

The Tiwa Autonomous Council Act, 1995, specifically Section 6(1), provides for a General Council comprising, among other members, 38 directly elected representatives. While Section 48(1) of the Act stipulated 38 (thirty six) constituencies within the Council Area for the election of these members, Section 48(2) empowers the Government to determine the territorial limits of these constituencies. Furthermore, Section 49 of the Act grants the Government the authority to alter or amend any order made under Section 48. The current notification operationalizes these statutory provisions by appointing a specific authority and setting a clear process. The legislation provided: “Now therefore, the Governor of Assam is pleased to order that District Commissioner, Morigaon shall be Designated/ Authorized Officer to determine the territorial limits of the 38 (thirty eight) constituencies for the General Council of the Tiwa Autonomous Council in accordance with the provisions of the Act;” This order specifically directs the District Commissioner, Morigaon, to determine the territorial limits for 38 (thirty eight) constituencies. The Designated Authority is further mandated to publish a draft Delimitation Order, invite claims, comments, views, and objections from political parties, groups, and individuals, and conduct necessary hearings. The entire exercise, aimed at defining the electoral boundaries (delimitation), must be completed within a period of four weeks from the date of the notification's issue.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to ensure the timely and orderly conduct of elections for the General Council of the Tiwa Autonomous Council by establishing clearly defined electoral boundaries. The Tiwa Autonomous Council Act, 1995, laid down the foundational framework for the self-governance of the Tiwa community, including the structure of its General Council and the mechanism for electing its members. However, the Act required a subsequent executive order to specify the authority responsible for the practical implementation of constituency delimitation and to set a timeline for this crucial process. This notification addresses these operational gaps, moving from statutory provision to concrete action. By designating the District Commissioner, Morigaon, and outlining a participatory process that includes inviting public feedback and conducting hearings, the notification aims to foster transparency and fairness in the electoral preparations. It establishes a clear enforcement mechanism through the four-week statutory timeline, ensuring that the delimitation process is expedited. This measure is essential for facilitating the democratic functioning of the Tiwa Autonomous Council, enabling its General Council to be constituted through a representative electoral process based on well-defined territorial limits.

Keywords: Tiwa Autonomous Council, Delimitation, Assam, Morigaon, Notification, Electoral Constituencies, Tribal Affairs, Governor's Order Geo Tags: India, Assam District: Morigaon