Supreme Court Accepts Proposal To Hold Tripura Village Committee Elections By June 2026

The Supreme Court on March 18, 2026 accepted the proposal of the Tripura State Election Commission to complete elections to Village Committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) by June 2026, and directed that the timeline be strictly adhered to.

A Bench of Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Manmohan was hearing a writ petition filed by Pradyot Deb Burman concerning delays in conducting local body elections in the State.

Taking on record a compliance affidavit filed by the State Election Commission, the Court noted the proposed schedule indicating that the entire election process for Village Committees would take approximately 72 days. The Commission stated that the process could begin immediately after the completion of District Council elections and conclude by the end of June 2026.

The schedule includes preparation and finalisation of electoral rolls, finalisation of polling stations, publication of draft rolls, consideration of claims and objections, notification of elections, nomination and scrutiny, campaigning, polling, and counting.

Senior Advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan, appearing for the petitioner, expressed apprehension that the timeline was subject to multiple variables and might not be adhered to.

Responding to this, Attorney General for India R Venkataramani assured the Court that the proposed schedule would be followed and that all efforts would be made to complete the elections within the indicated timeframe.

Accepting the statement, the Court observed that the State Election Commission is expected to adhere to the timeline set out in its affidavit.

Earlier, the Court had questioned the delay in holding Village Committee elections, especially in light of a 2022 schedule placed before the High Court which contemplated a much earlier timeline. It had also asked the Commission to explore holding the elections before the onset of the monsoon.

While the Commission maintained that simultaneous elections for the District Council and Village Committees were not feasible, the Court had directed it to fix an expeditious and separate schedule for the latter.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on May 20, 2026 to monitor compliance.

Case : PRADYOT DEB BURMAN v. UNION OF INDIA | Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 786/2025

Click here to read the order