HC directs SEC to incorporate all eligible Reang refugee names in the voter list before going for the village committee election

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 27, 2022

Uncertainty over holding the Village Committee vote on time is looming large as the High Court of Tripura has directed the State Election Commission to ensure enlistment of all the Reang or Bru refugees on the voter list before going to the polls. The court ordered the commission to adhere to the directives given by a division bench earlier to hold an election by the first week of November but considering the objective condition, it appears to be difficult.

Disposing of a petition filed by one Philip Apeto and three others whose names did not figure in the draft voter list, Justice Arindam Lodh delivered the judgment. It said all the Reang refugees who came from Mizoram and were covered under clause 4.9 of the quadripartite agreement must be enlisted in the voter list.

The names of only 5,000 of the refugees figured in the druft voter list recently published by the State Election Commission. It enlisted only those names who moved to their new resettlement location. The name of the rest 16,000 was not incorporated as they don't have permanent residence.

Advocate Shankar Lodh appearing on behalf of the petitioner said permanent residence is not any criterion in incorporating the names in the voter list.