Guwahati, Dec. 11: Assam governor J.B. Patnaik today said the failure of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in delivering justice to the common man had led to disgruntled youths joining militant ranks.

“In my opinion, the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution has failed to provide justice to the common man,” he said in his valedictory address at the golden jubilee celebration of the Bar Council of northeastern states here today.

“Poverty and unemployment are rampant in these areas (under the Sixth Schedule), as a result of which they have become the fertile ground of recruitment for insurgency,” Patnaik said.

The observations of the governor, who is the constitutional head of Sixth Schedule areas, assumed greater significance as it was clear that he was unhappy with the state of affairs in the autonomous council areas of the state.

“In most of these places there is inadequate road communication, the number of schools are few and far between, with many of them going without teachers, and health services are in a poor state,” he said.

He described the lack of development and decentralisation of power at the grassroots as “most disappointing”.

Patnaik rued that there were many cases where the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which is meant to provide jobs to the poor agriculture labourers, is yet to be implemented.

“It is high time that the Sixth Schedule areas are brought to the mainstream of the country by bringing adequate amendment to the Constitution,” the governor said.

Under the Sixth Schedule, the autonomous district councils are provided with legislative and executive powers in order to fulfil the desires of the people.

There are now three autonomous councils in the state under the Sixth Schedule — North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Bodoland Territorial Council.

“The access of citizens to law remains limited owing to prohibitive costs of quality legal service. It is commonplace to hear that law has become a luxury of the rich,” he said.

“Legal aid can go a long way in helping indigents secure justice. But the number of poor who needs legal aid is so vast that the state aid is inadequate and voluntary effort on a large scale is needed,” Patnaik said.

“I am sure the distinguished members of the bar council present here would deliberate on it and devise further ways and means for rendering adequate legal aid to the common man.”

Expressing concern over the huge backlog of cases in courts, he suggested that the judicial system should be made more competent and adequate to avoid unnecessary delay.

For addressing the problem, he suggested setting up of more courts at the districts and sub-divisions, filling up of vacancies at high courts and empowering the lok adalats at the village level with judicial powers to dispose of petty cases.

Former chief election commissioner Naveen Chawla, Manipur Assembly speaker I. Hemochandra Singh, Bar Council of India member Apurba Kumar Sharma, among other dignitaries, were also present at the function held at Rabindra Bhawan here.