Tripura Tribal Customary Law Coordination Committee has urged CM Dr Manik Saha to expedite the codification of 14 tribal customary law bills passed by the TTAADC in 2022, stressing the need to protect indigenous customs, traditions, cultural identity and constitutional rights.
The Tripura Tribal Customary Law Coordination Committee has appealed to Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha to take immediate steps for the codification of the customary laws of 14 Scheduled Tribe communities, stating that the bills passed by the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in 2022 are still awaiting enactment.
The appeal was made through a memorandum submitted to the chief minister by the committee, which comprises Pradhan Samajpatis (traditional chieftains) representing various Scheduled Tribe communities in the state. The delegation also met Dr Saha at his official residence and urged him to expedite the legal process to ensure that the customary laws receive formal recognition.
According to the committee, the prolonged delay in codifying the customary law bills has created growing concern among indigenous communities over the preservation of their traditional customs, institutions, cultural practices and indigenous faith. The members maintained that legal recognition of these customary laws is essential for safeguarding the unique identity and heritage of Tripura’s tribal population.
The memorandum noted that Tripura is home to 19 recognised Scheduled Tribe communities, each with its own distinct culture, language, customs and traditional practices. Some of these communities also possess their own scripts, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the state. The committee argued that these traditions have been preserved over generations and deserve legal protection through codified customary laws.
It further stated that tribal societies have historically governed themselves through customary practices and traditional institutions. Community disputes have largely been resolved through mediation by traditional leaders and village institutions, reducing dependence on police stations and formal judicial systems. Codification of these customary laws, the committee said, would strengthen this traditional system while providing a recognised legal framework for their implementation.
Referring to the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the committee highlighted that the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council was established to safeguard the socio-economic, cultural and administrative interests of Scheduled Tribe communities and to facilitate self-governance based on their traditional customs and practices.
The committee described the codification of customary laws as a longstanding demand of tribal communities since the establishment of the autonomous district council. It pointed out that despite decades of demands, only the Jamatia Customary Law has so far been codified into an Act, while the customary laws of other tribal communities remain without statutory recognition.
According to the memorandum, the TTAADC unanimously passed customary law bills for 14 tribal communities on December 28, 2022. These communities include Tripura, Reang, Tripuri, Chakma, Garo, Uchoi, Noatia, Murasing, Kaipeng, Rupini, Hrankhawl, Mog, Mizo and Choroi.
The committee said the bills were subsequently forwarded to the Tribal Welfare Department for further processing and for obtaining the Governor’s assent. However, the process has not yet been completed. It alleged that while some of the bills were returned to the TTAADC for rectification of certain issues, the overall codification process has remained pending without significant progress.
Expressing concern over the delay, the committee stated that the absence of legal recognition has raised apprehensions among tribal communities regarding the future protection of their customary practices, indigenous beliefs, cultural traditions and social institutions. It maintained that codification would not only preserve these traditions but also provide clarity in their implementation within the constitutional framework.
The memorandum urged Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha to ensure the immediate completion of the codification process for all 14 customary law bills that have already been passed by the TTAADC and submitted to the state government. The committee expressed confidence that early enactment would enable Scheduled Tribe communities to continue practising their customary traditions under a recognised legal framework while reinforcing the constitutional safeguards provided under the Sixth Schedule.
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The delegation also conveyed its hope that the state government would accord priority to the matter, considering its significance for preserving the cultural heritage, traditional governance systems and identity of Tripura’s indigenous tribal communities. The committee reiterated that prompt codification would fulfil a long-pending aspiration of the tribal population and strengthen the legal protection of their customary institutions for future generations.
