Panaji
The election process in those panchayats where the Bombay High Court at Goa has issued directions staying the delimitation and reservation of certain wards will go ahead on schedule, with the court clarifying that no directions have been issued to the Goa State Election Commission to delay or keep on hold the election process itself.
The State Election Commission had sought the court’s clarification over whether the orders staying specific notifications from the Directorate of Panchayats declaring certain wards as reserved would also mean that the election process is stayed until the new reservation is drawn up.
However, the HC clarified that “no directions have been issued in so far as the applicant (SEC) is concerned qua the election programme”.
This would mean that the polls can proceed, with all the candidates who have filed the nominations being treated as general category candidates. It, however, left only one day for those in the general category to file their nominations who would not have been able to do so since the ward was reserved. The SEC, however, did not extend the last date for nominations. The wards will be considered as de-reserved.
Earlier, the High Court had made it clear that the various orders challenging the delimitation notifications could be allowed as the applicants were not seeking a stay on the election process itself.
