Team Herald
PANJIM: The Division Bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa will, on June 5, decide on the elections and further process in the 10 wards of the seven village panchayats which are in dispute over the reservation and delimitation notification.
The High Court on May 24 had stayed the reservation and delimitation notification issued by the State government for the panchayat polls schedule on June 11. However, on May 30 the Supreme Court stayed the order of High Court following an appeal from the Goa government.
The nodal officer of State Election Commission (SEC) stated that the commission has approached the High Court to seek further orders after the SC order of May 30. He said the commission is also seeking opinion from experts.
Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho said that the single bench of the High Court has referred the matter to the division bench, which will be sitting on June 5.
“As far as stay is concerned, we go back to the old situation as regards to eight wards of reservation and two wards of delimitations. Whatever the government did earlier stands,” he said.
While stating the conduct of the election is in the domain of SEC, the minister said, “We had discussion with SEC, they already approached the single bench of HC, but I understand now that the matter has been placed before the division bench and which they will be sitting only on June 5.”
He said that the decision on further process and holding of the election in these 10 wards will be taken only on June 5.
Godinho said that in two wards of Anjuna-Caisua, one ward of Bastora and one ward of Nuvem panchayats, which are also in dispute, the government may go ahead with the HC order. “We may decide, as far as these four wards are concerned, to leave it as it is in tune with the HC order. But we will take a call in two days whether to approach the SC or not,” he said.
