PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has concluded hearings on the petitions that have been filed challenging the ward reservations for the upcoming municipal polls and has reserved the matter for judgement.
On the final of three days of arguments against the petitions, the State Election Commission told the High Court bench of Justices M S Sonak and Bharati Dangre that it cannot ask the State government to rectify the alleged errors and discrepancies in the reservations or delimitations since that is the prerogative of the State government.
The SEC said its job is to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner once the Goa government has notified the reservations.
In addition, Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the High Court that the set precedent is that courts refrain from interfering in an election process once the elections are notified and the process is on. He cited several judgements from the Supreme Court to buttress his arguments.
Meanwhile, a fresh petition has been filed challenging the delimitation of CCP wards. In response, the High Court has issued notice returnable next Wednesday. The State and State Election Commission has been directed to file replies within one week with a copy to the petitioner.
Petitioners have challenged the reservations of wards as notified by the state government alleging that they are haphazard besides in violation of the constitutional mandate which mandates that 33% be reserved for women, 27% for OBC, for OBC women among other reservations.
