Agartala: August 25: The Supreme Court has issued a notice on a petition seeking urgent directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Tripura Election Commission for the immediate conduct of overdue Village Committee elections under the provisions of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Act, 1994.
The matter was heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice NV Anjaria, which took cognizance of the plea highlighting the prolonged delay in holding elections to the Village Committees across the TTAADC areas. The petitioners argued that the elections, which form a vital component of grassroots-level self-governance within the tribal council framework, have been pending for an unreasonably long period.
According to the plea, the delay in conducting these elections has not only deprived local communities of their rightful representation but has also adversely affected the day-to-day governance and developmental activities in the tribal areas. The Village Committees, functioning as important administrative units under the TTAADC Act, play a crucial role in ensuring local participation in decision-making, implementation of welfare measures, and maintaining accountability at the village level.
The petitioners further contended that postponing the elections undermines democratic principles and violates the spirit of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, under which the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council was constituted to safeguard tribal rights and self-governance.
Taking note of the submissions, the Supreme Court has sought responses from both the ECI and the State Election Commission of Tripura regarding the reasons behind the delay and the steps being taken to conduct the elections at the earliest. The matter is expected to come up for further hearing in due course.
