The Supreme Court on March 18, 2026 accepted the proposal submitted by the Tripura State Election Commission to complete elections to Village Committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) by June 2026. The Court directed the authorities to strictly adhere to the proposed timeline.
A Bench comprising Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Manmohan passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Pradyot Deb Burman concerning delays in conducting local body elections in the State.
Election Commission Submits 72-Day Schedule
The Court took on record a compliance affidavit filed by the State Election Commission outlining the proposed election schedule. According to the affidavit, the entire election process for Village Committees would require approximately 72 days.
The Commission informed the Court that it would commence the process immediately after completing the District Council elections and conclude it by the end of June 2026.
The schedule covers all stages of the electoral process, including preparation and finalisation of electoral rolls, identification and finalisation of polling stations, publication of draft rolls, consideration of claims and objections, issuance of election notifications, nomination and scrutiny of candidates, campaigning, polling, and counting of votes.
Concerns Raised Over Feasibility of Timeline
Senior Advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan, appearing for the petitioner, expressed concern that several variables could affect the implementation of the timeline. He submitted that these uncertainties might prevent strict adherence to the proposed schedule.
In response, Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani assured the Court that the authorities would follow the timeline and make all efforts to complete the election process within the stipulated period.
Court Emphasises Strict Compliance
Accepting the assurance, the Court observed that the State Election Commission must adhere to the timeline set out in its affidavit.
Earlier, the Court had questioned the delay in holding Village Committee elections, particularly in view of a 2022 schedule placed before the High Court that contemplated an earlier timeline. The Bench had also asked the Commission to explore the possibility of conducting elections before the onset of the monsoon.
While the Commission maintained that it could not hold the District Council and Village Committee elections simultaneously, the Court had directed it to fix an expeditious and separate schedule for the Village Committee polls.
Next Hearing on May 20, 2026
The Court listed the matter for further hearing on May 20, 2026 to monitor compliance with the proposed schedule.
Case: PRADYOT DEB BURMAN v. UNION OF INDIA | Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 786/2025.
