The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned to December 7 a petition filed by Trinamul seeking contempt action against the Tripura government for failing to ensure free and fair civic polls, but hinted that the matter could be sent back to the high court.

Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, heading a bench that also had Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath, said: “Now the election process is complete. The results have been declared. The reason why we assumed seisin of the matter because our concern was that the election process must take place peacefully. We intervened only in the interest of free and fair polls…. I think with the election process over, now we can trust the high court with regard to other issues in the petitions…. The purpose for which we had taken jurisdiction has been served.”

The observations followed the submission of solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Tripura government, that the state had fully complied with the various directions passed by the court, including the deployment of two additional battalions of the Central Armed Police Force.

Later the court adjourned the matter for further hearing to Tuesday.