Agartala, August 25, 2025: The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Tripura State Election Commission, and the state government, seeking clarification on the prolonged delay in conducting village committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Act.
A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice N V Anjaria passed the order on Monday, directing all concerned authorities to explain the reasons for the delay within four weeks.
The last village committee elections in Tripura were held on February 24, 2016, with results declared on February 27 the same year. As per norms, the elections should have been conducted every five years. However, despite the expiry of the committees’ term in 2021, polls were postponed citing the Covid-19 pandemic, and no further steps have been taken since then.
Reacting strongly to the development, Tipra Motha founder and MDC Pradyot Kishore Debbarman welcomed the apex court’s intervention. “I thank the Supreme Court for issuing the notice. Our people have been suffering due to this delay for a long time. Those who created this situation should be held accountable,” he said in a social media post.
Pradyot alleged that democratic rights of the tribal people were being denied. “If someone wants to take away the democratic rights of the tribal people just because they are afraid of losing the elections, it is in no way acceptable. The tribals of Tripura have the right to local self-government as per their constitutional rights. I will not sit silent if their rights are taken away,” he added.
Earlier, the Tripura High Court had directed that village committee elections be completed within six months following a petition. However, no progress was made, prompting Pradyot to move the Supreme Court.
Political observers noted that the apex court’s latest move puts the state government and election bodies under pressure to act. “Questions are now being raised about why the constitutional democratic process has been stalled for years,” said a senior analyst.
The Supreme Court has warned that strict action could follow if satisfactory explanations are not provided within the stipulated time.
