Team Herald
PANJIM: Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar and supporters of Scheduled Tribes (ST) reservation for the 2022 Assembly elections has charged the Election Commission of India (ECI) with failing to explain with cogent reasons for not implementing reservations for ST category in the State Assembly as mandated under the Indian Constitution.
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During the ongoing final hearing into a plea by the batch of pro-ST reservations activists, Advocate Datta Lawande, representing the petitioners said that the Respondent Commission is well aware of the duty cast upon them to implement reservations and the same has not been denied.
“The Commission has simply stated that there is no enabling law, and thus, in its absence they are unable to follow the mandate of the Constitution under Article 332. That it is pertinent to mention, despite three Ordinances promulgated in the year 2013 and 2014 for readjustment of seats, the Respondent Commission failed to implement reservations in the State of Goa while implementing reservations and adjusting seats in other States,” he said.
The petitioners claimed that ECI has absolved from the duty cast upon it by the Constitution of India and has since, denied the ST in Goa, their representation in the State Assembly.
