PANAJI
The State government has requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to approach the Supreme Court against the High Court’s interim order staying the process of notifying Goa’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) population.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, meanwhile, expressed confidence that political reservation for the ST community would be implemented in the 2027 Assembly elections.
In a video message, Sawant said he had spoken to Shah and requested him to challenge the High Court’s order in the Supreme Court at the earliest.
The appeal follows the High Court’s decision to restrain the Census Commissioner from notifying or publishing Goa’s ST population figures under the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025. The order has raised concerns over the timeline for implementing political reservation ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Sawant reiterated that the government remained committed to securing political representation for the ST community and was pursuing the matter with the Centre to overcome the legal hurdles.
Earlier, Sawant had said the State government would press the Centre to challenge the interim order.
The High Court has directed the parties, including the Census Commissioner, to file their replies and rejoinders by November 19. The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on November 25.
Tribal leaders accuse BJP of delaying reservation
PANAJI: Tribal leaders have accused the BJP government of deliberately delaying political reservation for Scheduled Tribes. Scheduled Tribes of Goa convenor Rupesh Velip questioned the government’s failure to intervene in HC proceedings and defend the demand. He alleged that government’s advocate lacked instructions to represent State’s position, raising doubts about its commitment to reservation.
Velip alleged a conspiracy to deny STs their constitutional rights and announced a village-level agitation from November. He warned that tribal leaders would campaign against the BJP across Goa if political reservation was not granted.
