By TC News Desk
Agartala, 29th July 2024: As the Tripura High Court Bar Association elections approach, the candidates of the ‘Sambidhan Bachao Manch’ have officially submitted their nomination papers. The elections scheduled for August 10 have garnered significant attention, with lawyers supported by the Congress and CPIM parties uniting under the banner of the ‘Save the Constitution Manch’ to contest the elections.
On Monday, senior lawyers Piyush Kanti Biswas and Subrata Sarkar submitted their nomination papers for the post of president to Returning Officer Nepal Majumder. This move marks a critical step in the upcoming elections, which are seen as pivotal for the legal community in Tripura.
After submitting his nomination papers, Piyush Kanti Biswas emphasized the importance of protecting the interests of lawyers and ensuring that common people do not face difficulties in accessing justice at the high court. He highlighted the issue of the lawyer welfare fund, which, according to him, exists only on paper as no money has been deposited by the government. Biswas vowed to pressure the government to allocate funds to this welfare initiative, which would benefit lawyers across the state. Additionally, he called for a two-year stipend for new lawyers and urged his colleagues to support the ‘Sambidhan Bachao Manch’ candidates with a significant majority.
Another senior lawyer Subrata Sarkar echoed Biswas’s sentiments and demanded that the government provide health insurance for lawyers. He argued that such a measure would offer crucial support to lawyers in times of need.
Returning Officer Nepal Majumder provided detailed information about the election process. Voting will take place on August 10 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, with the counting of votes commencing at 2:30 PM. The results will be announced shortly after the counting is completed. So far, 35 candidates have collected nomination papers, and 11 have submitted them. The deadline for submitting nomination papers is Tuesday, with scrutiny scheduled for July 31. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until August 1, after which the ballot papers will be printed.
The election will see 217 valid voters, including 15 senior lawyers and 202 other lawyers, casting their votes for 11 key positions. These positions include President, Vice-President, Editor, Co-Editor, Treasurer, and six Executive Members. The elected committee will serve a two-year term.
It has been reported that the BJP’s legal cell will field candidates against those of the ‘Sambidhan Bachao Manch.’ However, as of now, the BJP candidates have not submitted their nomination papers. They are expected to do so on Tuesday.
The upcoming elections are expected to be highly competitive, with both sides vying for control of the Tripura High Court Bar Association. The results will likely have significant implications for the legal community and the broader political landscape in Tripura.
