New Delhi

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Tripura State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct elections to the village committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in a single phase on September 27, while making it clear that no further extension of the poll schedule would be permitted.

A bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi passed the order after the Tripura SEC informed the court that it was prepared to complete the entire electoral exercise in one phase.

Attorney General R. Venkataramani, appearing for the State Election Commission, suggested that holding the elections on a single day would ensure a smoother process. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Tripura government, endorsed the proposal.

The bench observed that conducting the elections in one phase would also minimise the burden on security deployment.

"I am in complete agreement with the Election Commission. It would be better if it's completed in one phase. You will not have to spare more security forces," the court remarked during the hearing.

Recording the consensus among the parties, the apex court noted that the disagreement was limited to the proposed timeline and that the difference in suggested dates was merely a month.

"As the parties are in substantial agreement and the difference between the proposed dates is merely one month, we direct that the elections to the Village Committees be conducted in terms of the election schedule proposed in the affidavit," the bench said in its order.

The court further directed all concerned authorities to make every effort to complete the election process within the stipulated timeframe.

"Respondents and all authorities shall make earliest endeavours to abide by the schedule and to conclude the election process. No further extension shall be granted," it added.

The top court was hearing a petition filed by Tipra Motha Party founder and former royal scion of Tripura, Pradyot Deb Burman, who had alleged that the authorities had failed to conduct the village committee elections within the prescribed period.

In his plea, Burman sought directions to the Election Commission of India and the Tripura SEC to immediately hold the long-pending elections under the provisions of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Act, 1994.

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The TTAADC administers tribal-majority areas of the northeastern state, and the village committees constitute a crucial tier of grassroots governance within the autonomous council framework. The Supreme Court's directive is expected to bring clarity and finality to the delayed electoral process.