Supreme Court Seeks Centre’s Stand on Security for Tripura Village Committee Polls, Next Hearing on May 28

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, May 26, 2026

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday sought a clear response from the Central Government regarding deployment of adequate Central Armed Police Forces for the proposed Village Committee elections in Tripura and posted the matter for further hearing on May 28, 2026. The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Manmohan while hearing Writ Petition (Civil) No.786 of 2025 filed by Pradyot Deb Barman against the Union of India and others along with connected writ petitions numbered 643 and 644 of 2026.

Senior Advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan appeared for the petitioner along with Advocate-on-Record Arjun Aggarwal and advocates Vishal Singh, Aman Kumar, Aayushman Aggarwal and Madhav Gupta. Senior Advocate Parthiv Goswami appeared in one of the connected matters while Senior Advocate S Guru Krishnakumar represented another connected petitioner. Appearing for the respondents were Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Attorney General for India R Venkataramani, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj and several other counsel representing the Centre and concerned authorities.

The case relates to the conduct of Village Committee elections in Tripura’s tribal areas under the TTAADC and concerns issues of election preparedness, security deployment and the prevailing law-and-order situation. During the hearing, the Court examined a compliance affidavit filed in pursuance of its earlier order dated March 18, 2026. The affidavit informed the Court that the State Election Commission had already initiated the process for draft and final publication of polling stations through a notification dated May 9, 2026. According to the schedule placed before the Bench, draft publication of polling stations was completed on May 11, claims and objections were invited till May 15, disposal of objections was completed by May 16 and the final publication of polling stations was issued on May 18.

The affidavit further stated that the authorities had sought deployment of 136 companies of paramilitary forces to ensure peaceful conduct of elections but only 24 companies had earlier been provided during District Council elections. It was also informed that the Home Department of the State Government had sent a requisition to the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 11 seeking deployment of 134 companies of CAPF, though the affidavit did not clarify whether the Central Government had approved the request. The State Election Commission further stated before the Court that although steps had already been initiated to conduct the Village Committee elections by June 2026, the prevailing situation and related impediments prompted a request to allow the elections to be held when conditions become conducive for free and fair polling.

After hearing all parties, the Supreme Court observed that since the State Election Commission had already completed the necessary preliminary formalities, the election process should proceed provided adequate security arrangements are ensured by the Centre. The Bench accordingly directed the Central Government to obtain instructions and place before the Court the steps taken on the State Election Commission’s request for deployment of security personnel. The connected matters, including Writ Petition (Civil) No.644 of 2026, have now been listed for further hearing on May 28, 2026.

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