Tripura Tribal Customary Law Co-ordination Committee has announced a three-hour protest in Agartala on December 7, demanding speedy codification of 14 pending customary law bills. The organisation has warned of a possible Tripura bandh if authorities fail to act.
The Tripura Tribal Customary Law Co-ordination Committee has announced a three-hour sit-in demonstration in Agartala on December 7, demanding the speedy codification of customary laws governing marriage, inheritance, adoption and other personal and social institutions of the state’s indigenous communities. The organisation has also warned of a possible Tripura bandh if the authorities fail to take concrete steps towards fulfilling its demand.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Agartala Press Club on Sunday, attended by community leaders, traditional chieftains and representatives of different tribal communities.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, committee Joint Convenor Birendra Tripura said the demonstration would begin at 12 noon near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, adjacent to Circuit House, and continue for three hours.
The committee expressed concern over the prolonged delay in completing the codification process for 14 customary law bills unanimously passed by the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) during its session on December 28, 2022.
According to Birendra Tripura, nearly four years have passed since the bills received approval from the autonomous district council, but the proposed legislation has yet to be formally codified.
He said that, out of the 14 bills, the state government had returned 10 to the TTAADC administration with observations and recommendations for necessary modifications and corrections. These bills are currently pending with the autonomous council administration, while the remaining four are still under consideration by the state government.
The committee has urged both authorities to resolve the outstanding issues and complete the legislative process without further delay.
Repeated Appeals and Assurances
Birendra Tripura said the organisation had submitted several representations to the state government and the TTAADC administration seeking formal recognition of the customary laws. However, the representatives alleged that their repeated appeals had not resulted in any substantial progress.
He recalled that committee representatives had earlier met the TTAADC Chief Executive Member and Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha through separate deputations. According to him, both had assured the delegation that the concerns would be addressed shortly.
Despite these assurances, the committee claimed that no tangible progress had been made towards resolving the issue.
The December 7 demonstration is intended to draw the attention of the authorities to the pending bills and renew pressure for an early decision.
Committee Warns of Tripura Bandh
The organisation has warned that it may intensify its agitation if the government and the autonomous district council fail to take concrete action following the proposed demonstration.
“We have plans to call Tripura Bandh if our demands are not addressed,” Birendra Tripura said while outlining the committee’s future course of action.
The warning indicates the possibility of a wider protest movement if the pending customary law bills remain unresolved.
19 Tribal Communities Seek Recognition of Traditional Laws
Highlighting the significance of customary laws in protecting indigenous identity and traditional institutions, Birendra Tripura said Tripura is home to 19 tribal communities, each having distinct customs and traditions governing personal and social matters.
He pointed out that, apart from Jamatia Hoda, no other customary law had been codified so far despite efforts by community elders and leaders.
According to the committee, all 19 tribal communities should have equal opportunities to secure formal recognition of their respective customary practices, which have been followed for generations.
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The proposed customary laws cover important aspects of community life, including marriage, inheritance, adoption and other traditional social institutions. The committee believes that their formal codification would help preserve indigenous traditions and provide legal recognition to established community practices.
With the December 7 demonstration approaching, the committee has appealed to the state government and TTAADC administration to resolve the pending issues and accelerate the codification process.
The outcome of the proposed protest could determine the organisation’s next course of action, including its warning of a possible statewide bandh.
