9. The hill districts of Assam are to be designated as autonomous districts and special district councils should be set up for each of them. The district councils will have powers of legislation over (a) occupation or use of land other than land comprising reserved forest, (b) the management of forest other than reserved forest, (c) the use of canals and water courses for the purposes of agriculture, (d) control of jhum cultivation, (e) establishment of village and town committees and (f) village management in general. Reserved forests will be managed by the Provincial Govern- Iment [Paras. 9 to 13 of Assam Sub-Committee Report].
The district council will have powers of management of all institutions which normally come under the scope of local self-government in the plains and will have full control over primary education [Para. 13 and Sec. E of Appendix A of Assam Sub-Committee Report].
The district council will also have powers to make its own rules and regulations regarding its own constitution [Sec. B(5) of Appendix A of Assam Sub-Committee Report].
The district council will have powers to make laws affecting (a) appointment and succession of chiefs, (b) inheritance of property, etc. [Para. 18 and Sec. C of Appendix A of Assam Sub-Committee Report].
District councils and regional councils can set up courts with full powers to deal with all civil suits other than those arising out of special laws and offences punishable under the Penal Code with imprisonment of less than five years in accordance with local or tribal custom except where non-tribals are involved [Para. 12 and Sec. D & F of Appendix A of Assam Sub-Committee Report].
Where there are different tribes in a district and they wish to manage their own affairs regional councils may be set up. Regional councils have powers limited to their customary law and the management of land, villages and courts. Regional councils may delegate their powers to district councils. [Para. 18 and Sec. B(3) of Appendix A of Assam Sub-Committee Report].
The district and regional councils (Assam Hill Districts) will have powers to levy land revenue, house tax or poll tax and other taxes levied by local self-governing institutions in the plains [para. 14(a) and Sec. H of Appendix A of Assam Sub-Committee Report]. They should be assisted by Provincial grants where necessary [Para. 14(d) of Assam Report].
The District or Sub-divisional Officer, as the case may be, will be ex-officio President of the district council of the Mikir and North Cachar Hills.