Citizens Demand Restoration of NCHAC Platinum Jubilee to April 29

 Haflong, April 28 — A strong public appeal has been issued in Dima Hasao district, urging the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) to observe its 75th Foundation Day — the Platinum Jubilee — on its rightful date of April 29, 2026, rather than the deferred date of May 11.

The appeal, signed by Kalijoy Sengyung, Working President of the Dima Hasao District Congress Committee, argues that the decision to postpone the celebration citing the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is “constitutionally questionable and misguided.”

The NCHAC was established on April 29, 1952, under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, a landmark provision safeguarding tribal autonomy. Citizens emphasize that the Foundation Day is not a mere administrative event but a commemoration of constitutional rights granted to the people of Dima Hasao.

“The Council is a creature of the Constitution itself,” the statement notes, underscoring that no administrative directive should override the sanctity of the date.

The appeal highlights that the MCC, enforced by the Election Commission of India, is not a statute but a set of guidelines meant to prevent misuse of power during elections. It restricts announcements of schemes, use of government machinery for campaigns, and similar activities — none of which apply to a constitutional commemoration.

Citizens further point out that polling in Dima Hasao was completed on April 9, with results scheduled for May 4. “There is no voter to influence, no ballot yet to be cast, and no electoral contest still in progress in this district,” the statement argues, adding that the rationale behind MCC restrictions does not apply locally.

The appeal stresses that a Foundation Day is immovable by nature. Observing it on May 11, instead of April 29, would “strip it of its authentic historical character.” Comparisons were drawn to other constitutional institutions such as the Supreme Court and Parliament, which have never deferred their anniversaries due to elections.

The citizens demand that the NCHAC Executive Body revoke the deferral and restore the Platinum Jubilee to April 29. They also urge the Council to seek written permission from the Election Commission if necessary, noting that relaxations are often granted once polling concludes.

“This is not an ordinary Foundation Day,” Sengyung emphasized. “The Platinum Jubilee represents 75 years of constitutional self-governance for the tribal people of Dima Hasao. To delay it is to diminish its dignity.”

The appeal concludes by invoking the legacy of the Sixth Schedule, won through the resilience of tribal communities, and calls upon the Council to honour that legacy with fidelity to history and constitutional spirit.