The Supreme Court of India took a significant step on Monday, August 25, by issuing a notice in response to a plea that called for immediate action from the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Tripura State Election Commission. The plea sought directions for the long-overdue Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Act of 1994.
The plea was filed by Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, the scion of the Tripura royal family and founder of the political party Tipra Motha. He had approached the Supreme Court a few months ago, highlighting the delay in conducting Village Committee elections in the region.
Despite the expiration of the Village Committees’ tenures, no elections have been held within the mandated timeframe. This delay has resulted in the tribal population being deprived of their constitutional right to local self-governance.
In response to the plea, the Supreme Court has given a four-week deadline to the ECI, the Tripura Election Commission, and the State Government to provide explanations for the delay in conducting the Village Committee elections.
Pradyot Manikay Debbarma expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for issuing the notice and emphasized the importance of holding those responsible for the delay accountable. He stated, “Our people have suffered, and those responsible cannot escape scrutiny. The fear of losing an election should not be a reason to deny the democratic rights of the indigenous people of Tripura. I will not remain silent on this issue.”
This development signifies a significant step towards ensuring the democratic rights of the tribal population in Tripura and holding the authorities accountable for their actions.