PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will personally lead a Goa delegation to New Delhi to discuss the legal strategy for challenging the Bombay High Court's interim order that has stalled the process of providing Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The Chief Minister on Saturday said the State would move the Supreme Court against the High Court order and make every effort to ensure ST reservation is implemented for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Sawant said the delegation would meet Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta to discuss the future course of action and legal options available to the State.
The delegation will include Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar, NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar and other ST community leaders. The development assumes significance as Tawadkar was earlier expected to lead the team to Delhi for consultations on the matter. The Chief Minister has now decided to take charge of the matter himself. Addressing reporters, Sawant reiterated the government's commitment to securing political representation for the ST community through reservation of Assembly seats. "We will make every possible effort to ensure ST reservation becomes a reality in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections," he said. Sawant pointed out that the Goa government is not a direct party in the High Court proceedings that resulted in the interim order. However, he maintained that the State remained determined to pursue all available legal remedies. The government's decision to approach the apex court comes amid concerns that delays in the reservation process could affect its implementation ahead of the next Assembly elections, due in February-March next year.
The issue of political reservation for Scheduled Tribes has been a long-standing demand of tribal groups in Goa. The state government has repeatedly assured the community that it remains committed to fulfilling that promise.
