Tripura Tribal Customary Laws: Coordination Committee Calls for Mass Sit-In on December 7, Warns of Statewide Shutdown
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, November 1, 2026
The Tripura Tribal Customary Law Coordination Committee has announced a mass sit-in on December 7, demanding the early enactment of customary laws of the state's 14 tribal communities. The committee has warned that it will call a statewide shutdown if the government fails to take concrete steps to fulfil its demands.
The decision was taken at a meeting of community leaders and traditional tribal chiefs held at Agartala Press Club on Sunday. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, committee representatives expressed dissatisfaction over the prolonged delay in formally enacting the customary laws despite repeated appeals to the Tripura government and the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
According to the committee, 14 customary law bills representing different tribal communities were unanimously passed at a TTAADC session on December 28, 2022. However, the bills have yet to be fully enacted into law, leaving the communities' traditional legal frameworks without the statutory recognition they have been seeking.
The committee alleged that despite repeated representations to both the state government and the ADC administration, no effective action has been taken to complete the legislative process.
As part of its agitation programme, the committee will organise a three-hour mass sit-in from 12 noon on December 7 at the foot of the Gandhi statue near Circuit House in Agartala. Leaders said the demonstration would press for immediate action on the pending customary law bills.
The committee further warned that if the authorities continue to ignore the demand, it would consider calling a statewide bandh to intensify its movement.
Birendra Tripura, Shanti Chakma and Khanaram Reang addressed the press conference and highlighted the importance of legally recognising the customary laws of the state's diverse tribal communities.
However, none of the speakers made substantial comments on the ongoing public interest litigation in the Supreme Court challenging a provision of the Jamatia Customary Laws Act that reportedly permits the settlement of rape cases through monetary penalties. The PIL, filed by Advocate Madhumita Bhattacharjee, has raised questions about the compatibility of the provision with constitutional protections and central criminal law.
The committee's latest announcement comes amid growing public attention to the legal status, scope and constitutional implications of customary laws in Tripura. The December 7 demonstration is expected to bring renewed pressure on the state government and the TTAADC to resolve the long-pending issue.
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