Date fixed just day before HC hearing
VASCO
The long-pending election to fill the posts of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch of Sancoale village panchayat will be held on May 12, with the Directorate of Panchayats issuing an official order announcing an election date, just a day before the matter was scheduled to come up for hearing before the High Court.
As per the order dated May 4, the Director of Panchayats has fixed May 12, as the date to conduct elections to fill the vacancies of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch in the Sancoale Panchayat. The meeting will be presided over by Nicolas Quadros, with alternate arrangements in place in case of his absence.
The development comes in the backdrop of a petition filed before the High Court by RTI activist Narayan Naik, who had challenged the delay in conducting elections for the two key posts in the Sancoale panchayat. The petition had sought directions to the authorities to expedite the election process.
Following the issuance of the order, the election process is now set to proceed, effectively addressing the grievance raised over the prolonged vacancy in the panchayat leadership.
Sources indicated that the timing of the order—just a day prior to the scheduled court hearing—has drawn attention, as the issue of delay had been a matter of contention in the petition.
With the date now officially notified, all eyes will be on May 12 as the panchayat moves to elect its new sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, bringing an end to the administrative vacuum in Sancoale village panchayat.
