[3] The council had wide control over finance, education, health, agriculture and economic development within its jurisdiction.
However, the government decided not to hold elections and instead made Subhash Ghisingh the sole caretaker administrator of the DGHC.
In March 2008, Ghisingh was forced to resign as caretaker after losing public support in the Darjeeling hills to Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.
[8] From March 2008 to August 2012, the West Bengal government appointed IAS officers as administrators of DGHC and no election to the council was held in that period.
[9] The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha signed a tripartite agreement with the state and central governments on 18 July 2011 for the formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in the Darjeeling hills.