PANAJI
The Goa government will this week file its affidavit before the High Court of Bombay at Goa in the Zilla Panchayat reservation case, in response to two PILs challenging the November 6 notification on seat reservations for the South Goa and Anjuna constituencies.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the petitioners urged the Bench to restrain the Goa State Election Commission (SEC) from announcing the election schedule. Advocate General Devidas Pangam, however, urged allowing time to file affidavits, which would comprise a detailed study of the government and the SEC.
“We have conducted the triple test contrary to allegations that the SEC did not comply with the mandatory requirement... Besides, the SEC and the OBC Commission have carried out the required study. All relevant studies have been conducted... constituency-wise too,” Pangam told the Court, which was also informed about the likely postponement of the election dates.
The AG further requested the Court to hear the matter on November 25 and that the government, as well as SEC will file their respective affidavits this week.
The Bench adjourned the matter to November 25, giving both parties time to file their affidavits. Soon after, the SEC officially announced the postponement of the elections to December 20, which were earlier scheduled for December 13.
Last week, the High Court issued notice to the SEC on the two petitions that sought to quash the November 6 notification. In the petition challenging the reservation for South Goa, the petitioner argued that the Nuvem and Curtorim constituencies were incorrectly reserved for the OBC category. It was further contended that of the five seats reserved for OBCs, two should have been marked for OBC women, which has not been done.
A separate petition challenged the reservation of the Anjuna ZP seat in North Goa, arguing that the constituency was reserved for women in the 2020 elections and that the latest OBC reservation is unjustified.
