Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas
Quick Summary (TL;DR)
Article 244 (Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas): Safeguards indigenous self-governance in Scheduled and Tribal Areas under the 5th and 6th Schedules (Part X).
In Simple Citizen Words
Article 244 ('Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas') in Part X (The Scheduled and Tribal Areas) applies the special protective governance frameworks of the Fifth Schedule (Scheduled Areas in 10 States) and the Sixth Schedule (Autonomous District and Regional Councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram) to preserve tribal land ownership, forests, and customary justice.
Key Constitutional Provisions
Constitutional Mandate (Art. 244): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas' under Part X
Structured across 2 clause(s) with clear procedural conditions
Any administrative or legislative action violating Article 244 can be challenged before the High Court (Art. 226) or Supreme Court
Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions
In Samatha v. State of Andhra Pradesh (1997), the Supreme Court held that tribal land in Scheduled Areas cannot be leased away to private mining corporations in violation of the Fifth Schedule.
Why This Matters in Daily Life
Protects indigenous Adivasi communities from displacement, land alienation, and erosion of their customary self-governance.
Want deeper legal & historical context? Explore the official Bare Act or Supreme Court Precedents & CAD Debates: