As directed, Shet, represented by Advocate Saresh Lotlikar, appeared before the court and filed his reply to the petition.
Gaonkar, represented by Adv Aires Rodrigues, has filed the petition under Section 22 of the Goa Municipalities Act. He submitted that Shet was working as refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanic at Goa Shipyard Ltd in Vasco, which is a Government of India undertaking, and hence, he could not have contested the election.
Stating that the returning officer did not verify the contents of the affidavit, Gaonkar, in his petition, has stated that Shet was ineligible to contest under the Representation of People Act, 1950 as he held office of profit under the government, in terms of Section 15 of the Municipalities Act, 1968, read with Article 102 (1) (a) and Article 191 (1) (a) of the Constitution.
Gaonkar has also sought that Shet be restrained from participating and voting in the CMC meetings until the disposal of the petition.
At the CMC elections last month, Shet, backed by the BJP, had polled 423 votes in Ward 3, while Gaonkar polled 407 and lost by a mere 16 votes. Shet was also in the news for having taken a bath in milk after the election results were declared.
