The Tripura Tribal Customary Law Coordination Committee has urged Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha to expedite the codification of the customary laws of 14 Scheduled Tribe communities, stating that the bills passed by the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in 2022 are still awaiting enactment.
A delegation of the committee, comprising Pradhan Samajpatis (traditional chieftains) of various tribal communities, submitted a memorandum to the chief minister at his official residence. The delegation expressed concern over the prolonged delay, saying it has created uncertainty about the preservation of the tribes’ traditional customs, practices, institutions, and indigenous identity.
The committee pointed out that Tripura is home to 19 recognised Scheduled Tribe communities, each with its own distinct culture, language, customs, and traditional governance systems. Some communities also have their own scripts. For generations, tribal societies have settled disputes through community-based mediation and customary practices, reducing reliance on police stations and formal courts.
Referring to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the committee said the TTAADC was established to safeguard the socio-economic, cultural, and traditional rights of Scheduled Tribe communities while promoting self-governance in accordance with their customary practices.
According to the memorandum, the demand for codification of tribal customary laws has existed since the formation of the autonomous district council. However, apart from the Jamatia Customary Law, no other tribal customary law has been formally enacted despite decades of efforts.
The committee noted that on December 28, 2022, the TTAADC unanimously passed customary law bills for 14 tribal communities, including Tripura, Reang, Tripuri, Chakma, Garo, Uchoi, Noatia, Murasing, Kaipeng, Rupini, Hrankhawl, Mog, Mizo, and Choroi. These bills were subsequently forwarded to the Tribal Welfare Department for processing and the Governor’s assent. However, the enactment process has remained incomplete, with some bills reportedly returned to the TTAADC for rectification.
Describing the delay as a matter of growing concern, the committee appealed to the state government to ensure the early enactment of the pending bills. It said codification would provide legal recognition to the customary laws, strengthen the protection of tribal traditions and indigenous faith, and enable Scheduled Tribe communities to continue practising their customs within an established legal framework.
