Comparative Study of the Lushai Hills District (Village Councils) Act Amended in 2014 and the Mizoram Village Councils Act, 2025

Author(s): Dr. Lallawmzuala Khiangte

Abstract:

The administrative system of Mizoram, formerly known as Lushai Hills District, was placed under the Assam Government right after India’s independence. It was administered as one district until it was elevated into an Autonomous District Council. On January 4, 1952, the first election of the Lushai Hills Autonomous District Council was successfully conducted, leading to the formation of the first District Council Government by the Mizo Union Party. Between 1952–1953, the District Council Government passed a number of Acts, Rules, and Regulations. Among them, the passage of the Lushai Hills District (Village Councils) Act, 1953, was a significant milestone for local administration in Mizoram. This Act created the Village Council system as a replacement for the traditional chieftainship, institutionalizing grassroots governance. The Act continued for more than 70 years with amendments, including the 2014 amendment, until its repeal in 2025. On March 5, 2025, the Mizoram Legislative Assembly passed The Mizoram Village Councils Bill, 2025, which received the Governor’s assent on March 12, 2025, and was published in the Mizoram Gazette on March 20, 2025, thereby becoming law. The new Act applies to all non-Sixth Schedule areas of Mizoram and replaces the Lushai Hills District (Village Councils) Act. This paper analyses the historical background of Village Councils in Mizoram and undertakes a comparative study between the two Acts, highlighting similarities, differences, and their implications for grassroots governance.

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