PANAJI: The hearing on petitions challenging the Ponda Assembly by-election was once again adjourned on Wednesday. The matter will now be taken up on April 2. The petitions, filed earlier this month, question the validity of the Election Commission of India’s notification to hold the by-election on April 9. The seat fell vacant after the death of former Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik on October 14, 2025.
The petitioners argued that a by-election is not compulsory under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 if less than one year remains in the term of the Legislative Assembly. They said that since Goa is likely to go for general elections within a year, the by-poll would lead to a representative serving only for a short period of a few months. The petitions have sought to cancel the poll notification.
