MARGAO
While many believed that the Supreme Court order overruling the High Court order on de-reservation would also be applicable for Kirbhat ward, local candidates have finally heaved a sigh of relief as the State government appeal petition to the Apex court did not include Kirbhat ward.
Even many a candidates from Kirbhat were not aware of the situation before the Mamlatdar’s office informally informed the local population that ward No 10 remains a general ward, permitting the ST population to file nomination papers for the seat.
Given the changing situation, the Returning Officer Vishal Kundaikar’s office has received four nomination papers for the Kirbhat ward. While Peter Fernandes has filed two sets of nomination papers, Bernardo Fernandes, Milagrina Colaco and Tribune K are the other candidates who have filed papers for the ward.
Commenting on the situation, the Returning Officer maintained that his office received a communique from the election authorities stating that Supreme Court order is not applicable for Kirbhat ward (ward No 10), since the ward was not part of the appeal petition filed by the government before the Apex court. “After I received the communique, we sent information to the ward about the position. Accordingly, we have received four nomination papers for the ward,” he said.
