Agartala, Nov 1: Demanding the long-pending codification of customary laws governing indigenous communities in Tripura, the Tribal Customary Law Co-ordination Committee on Sunday announced a three-hour peaceful sit-in demonstration in Agartala on December 7, accusing the state government of failing to take necessary action despite the laws being passed unanimously by the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
Announcing the decision at a press conference at Agartala Press Club, committee members said 14 customary laws relating to 10 tribal communities had been passed unanimously by the ADC government in 2018 and 2022 and subsequently forwarded to the state government for further action. However, the codification process has remained pending for years, prompting traditional community leaders to renew their agitation.
Khanaram Reang, an executive committee member of the TCLCC said that the state government had returned 10 of the customary laws, while four others were still pending with it. Despite repeated approaches to the concerned authorities, no concrete progress had been made, he alleged.
The committee said representatives and traditional chieftains of 14 to 15 indigenous communities attended Sunday’s meeting and unanimously decided to organise the demonstration from noon to 3 pm on December 7 near the Gandhi statue in the Circuit House area of Agartala.
“We have only one demand — codification of our customary laws. We are not seeking anything else,” a committee representative said, appealing to both the state government and the ADC authorities to expedite the process.
The members maintained that codification was essential to preserve the distinct customs, traditions and cultural practices of indigenous communities and strengthen traditional institutions responsible for delivering social justice and resolving community-level disputes.
They also expressed concern that the absence of legally codified customary laws was affecting the functioning and recognition of traditional chieftains in discharging their responsibilities.
The committee warned that it might consider further agitation, including a strike, if the authorities failed to address the demand.
Coordinator Shanti Bikash Chakma and joint convenor Birendra Tripura were among those present at the press conference.
