Agartala, Sep 23 Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council has stopped salaries of its Group A and B officers following a high court order, according to an official communique, which was made public on Wednesday.
The high court passed the order on September 9 after an employee of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), in a writ petition, claimed he did not receive retirement benefits of Rs 16.03 lakh, following his superannuation on January 31, 2025.
The tribal council had argued that the finance secretary has to be impleaded in the writ petition and unless the state government releases the amount through the finance secretary, they cannot proceed with releasing the funds.
Noting that the TTAADC is an autonomous body, the high court took the assistance of the advocate general to ascertain the submissions made. The state counsel informed the court that the TTAADC has its own funds and does not need permission from the finance secretary to release funds.
When the tribal council’s advocate reiterated that the finance secretary should come to their rescue for releasing this fund, the high court directed the TTAADC chief executive officer, finance secretary and district treasury officers to look into the matter and do the needful, if required.
“The chief executive officer of TTAADC is restrained from receiving his salary for the ensuing months and also shall stop the payment of salaries of all employees/officers of TTAADC except Group-C and Group-D till the matter is resolved by the respondent TTAADC,” the high court has stated in the order.
Following this, the council’s Chief Executive Member, Chaitanya Murti, issued an order on September 17, saying, “In pursuance of a September 11 letter of the Deputy Registrar of the High Court of Tripura, in connection with a judgment, it is hereby informed to all concerned that the salaries of all Group A and B officers under the TTAADC shall not be released until further order.”
The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on October 5.
The Pradyot Debbarma-led Tipra Motha Party swept to power in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, winning 20 of the 28 seats in the polls held in April. Elections to 587 village committees of TTAADC will be held on September 28.
Following the development, CPI(M) MLA and the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly said, “It is most unfortunate and disgraceful that the TMP-governed tribal council has failed to pay monthly salaries of the officials on account of a fund crunch. It reflects the party’s inability to run even an autonomous tribal council.
(PTI News)
