Team Herald
PANJIM: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed by an NGO in the High Court of Bombay at Goa challenging the process of delimitation of wards and reservation conducted by the Directorate of Panchayats in view of upcoming Panchayat polls in the state.
Petitioner The Mango Foundation, Panjim, in its petition has stated, that according to Article 243 K and 243 ZA the powers to conduct process of delimitation and reservation is vested only with the State Election Commission (SEC).
The petitioner has further stated that, for free and fare election as per the Constitution of India, the delimitations and reservations should be conducted by SEC and not by the Directorate of Panchayats or Municipalities.
“The entire ward delimitation and reservation is being conducted illegally and is undertaken in an absolute arbitrary, whimsical and motivated manner, devoid of any rational methodology, procedure or process by respondents, the Directorate of Panchayats and Directorate of Municipal Administration ought to be struck down,” petitioner said.
Petitioner further states that the Directorate of Panchayats and Directorate of Municipal Administration are directly under the control and are departments of government and there is a definite chance and charge in the minds of the public that the party in power influences the said delimitation and reservation conducted to achieve local electoral success by delimiting and reserving wards to its advantage.
The petitioner has pleaded before HC to grant an ex-parte interim relief and direct SEC to conduct delimitation and reservation of wards for the purpose of elections of local bodies in the future.
It has also pleaded before the bench to issue any appropriate writ to direct the directorate of Panchayats and Municipalities for restraining from further delimiting and reserving process of wards.
Court has admitted the PIL and the notices are served to all the respondents.
