India, Aug. 11 -- The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council in western Meghalaya on Monday approved amendments to its election rules that will bar non-tribals from voting or contesting council elections, while paving the way for a separate electoral roll for the Sixth Schedule body, officials said.

The amendments to Rules 128 and 129 were approved by the council to establish a separate electoral roll specifically for GHADC elections, replacing the practice of using the electoral roll prepared for Assembly elections.

The GHADC, established in 1952 under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, had for decades conducted its elections using the electoral roll prepared for Assembly polls, allowing members of different communities to partici...