3. Formation of Meghalaya.—(1) On and from the appointed day, there shall be formed within the
State of Assam an autonomous State to be known as Meghalaya which shall, subject to the provisions of
sub-section (2), comprise the following tribal areas, namely:—
(i) The United Khasi Jaintia Hills District as described in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 20 of
the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (exclusive of the proviso thereto) but excluding the areas
transferred to the Mikir Hills autonomous district by the notification of the Government of Assam
No. TAD/R/31/50/149 dated the 13th April, 1951, and
(ii) the Garo Hills District specified in Part A of the table appended to paragraph 20 aforesaid.
(2) If, before such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, fix for
the purpose not being a date later than the appointed day, the District Council for the autonomous district
of the North Cachar Hills or the Mikir Hills or both, as the case may be, has or have by resolution passed
by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members thereof, expressed a desire that the said
autonomous district or districts shall form part of Meghalaya, the President may, by order, make a
declaration to that effect and accordingly, on and from the appointed day, the North Cachar Hills District
or the Mikir Hills District or both, as the case may be, shall also form part of Meghalaya.
4. Executive power of Meghalaya.—(1) The executive power of Meghalaya shall be vested in the
Governor and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in
accordance with this Act.
(2) Nothing in this section shall—
(a) be deemed to transfer to the Governor any functions conferred by any existing law on any
other authority; or
(b) prevent Parliament or the Legislature of the State of Assam or Meghalaya from conferring by
law functions on any authority subordinate to the Governor.
5. Extent of executive power of Meghalaya.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the executive
power of Meghalaya shall extend to the matters with respect to which the Legislature of Meghalaya has
power to make laws:
Provided that in any matter with respect to which the Legislature of Meghalaya, the Legislature of the
State of Assam and Parliament have power to make laws, the executive power of Meghalaya shall be
subject to, and limited by, the executive power expressly conferred by this Act, or by any law made by
Parliament upon the Union or the State of Assam or the authorities thereof or, as the case may be, by the
Legislature of the State of Assam upon the State of Assam or authorities thereof.
(2) On and from the appointed day, the executive power of the State of Assam shall not extend, in
relation to Meghalaya to the matters with respect to which the Legislature of Meghalaya has exclusive
power to make laws under this Act.
(3) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that, save as otherwise provided in this Act, the
executive power of the State of Assam shall, in relation to Meghalaya, continue to extend to the matters
with respect to which the Legislature of Meghalaya has no power to make laws.
6. Council of Ministers.—(1) There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the
head to aid and advice the Governor in the exercise of his functions in relation to Meghalaya.
(2) The question whether any, and if so, what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the Governor shall
not be inquired into in any court.
7. Other provisions as to Ministers.—(1) The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor
and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, and the
Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.
(2) The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly.
6
(3) Before a Minister enters upon his office, the Governor shall administer to him the oaths of office
and of secrecy according to the form set out for this purpose in the First Schedule.
(4) A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the
Legislative Assembly shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister.
(5) The salaries and allowances of Ministers shall be such as the Legislature of Meghalaya may from
time to time by law determine and, until the Legislature so determines, shall be determined by the
Governor.
8. Advocate-General for Meghalaya.—(1) The Governor may, if he thinks fit to do so, appoint a
person who is qualified to be appointed a Judge of a High Court to be Advocate-General for Meghalaya.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Advocate-General to give advice to the Government of Meghalaya upon
such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character as may, from time to time, be
referred or assigned to him by the Governor, and to discharge the functions conferred on him by or under
this Act or any other law for the time being in force.
(3) The Advocate-General shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor, and shall receive
such remuneration as the Governor may determine.
9. Conduct of business.—(1) All executive actions of the Government of Meghalaya shall be
expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor.
(2) Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the Governor shall be
authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules to be made by the Governor, and the validity of
an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground that it is not
an order or instrument made or executed by the Governor.
(3) The Governor shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the
Government of Meghalaya and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.
10. Duties of Chief Minister as respects the furnishing of information to Governor, etc.—It shall
be the duty of the Chief Minister of Meghalaya—
(a) to communicate to the Governor all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the
administration of the affairs of Meghalaya and proposals for legislation;
(b) to furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of Meghalaya and
proposals for legislation as the Governor may call for; and
(c) if the Governor so requires, to submit for the consideration of the Council of Ministers any
matter on which a decision has been taken by a Minister but which has not been considered by the
Council.