PANJIM: The State Election Commission (SEC) is likely to hold a by-election to Benaulim Zilla Panchayat (ZP) constituency next month, following disqualification of lone Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ZP Member Henzel Fernandes.
However, the appeal filed by Fernandes challenging his disqualification is pending before the Supreme Court.
On January 11 this year, the Administrative Tribunal disqualified Fernandes on the grounds that the Christian Mesta community, to which Fernandes belongs, is not included in the State list of Other Backward Classes (OBC).
In August 2023, the High Court of Bombay at Goa had declared the OBC certificate issued to ZP member Henzel Fernandes, as invalid.
Congress candidate Royla Fernandes, who lost the 2020 ZP election, had approached the Administrative Tribunal seeking disqualification of Fernandes and to declare her elected as the Benaulim ZP member.
When contacted, AAP State convenor Adv Amit Palekar said that though SEC is in the process of holding by-election, the appeal filed by Fernandes is pending before the Supreme Court. “We will bring it to the notice of Supreme Court and seek urgency of the matter,” he said.
Adv Palekar held the State government responsible for creating a problem to Christian Mesta (carpenter) community by not including them in the State OBC list. In December 2006, the State government issued a notification granting OBC status to the Vishwakarma/Chari/Mesta community but there was no mention of their Christian counterparts.
Adv Palekar further pointed out that on two occasions, the government authorities had issued OBC certificate to Fernandes.
According to SEC sources, the by-election has to be held within six months from the date of the occurrence of vacancy.
