SANGUEM
The two petitioners who had challenged the notification of ward reservations in Sanguem Municipal Council for the ST and OBC have hailed the High Court’s decision.
Romauldo Fernandes and Fouziya Imtiaz Shaikh claimed they have got due justice after the dubious act of the State government to reserve their wards for the ST and OBC.
Fernandes, who was the first to challenge the reservation notification issued by the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) informed that certain political leaders in Sanguem with the help of government machinery were out to finish him politically by reserving his ward for ST candidates, despite barely about four ST voters in his ward.
In his petition, Fernandes had claimed there were wards in Sanguem municipality which have maximum ST population.
However instead of reserving these wards for ST candidates, the DMA reserved Ward 1 for ST candidates which was highly inappropriate and dubious, claimed Fernandes.
Another petitioner, Fouziya Imtiaz Shaikh also expressed similar feelings and thanked the High Court for passing the order in their favour.
Meanwhile, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar also appreciated the High Court for giving justice to the petitioners.
“The order passed by the High Court will be a slap on the face of the government who had scant respect for democracy,” said Gaonkar.
