The Gauhati High Court has ordered a “composite floor test” in Assam’s autonomous Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) on or before December 26. The BTC falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and the governor is its constitutional head.

What’s the issue?

=> Election to the 40 member council had resulted in fractured mandate with Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) emerging single largest party with 17 seats.

=> However, BJP and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) supported by Gana Shakti Party (GSP) formed the government of council. Following this, a petition was filed in the court.

What are Autonomous District Councils?

=> As per the Sixth Schedule, the four states viz. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram contain the Tribal Areas which are technically different from the Scheduled Areas.

=> Though these areas fall within the executive authority of the state, provision has been made for the creation of the District Councils and regional councils for the exercise of the certain legislative and judicial powers.

=> Each district is an autonomous district and Governor can modify / divide the boundaries of the said Tribal areas by notification.