VASCO: The Minister for Panchayat Mauvin Godinho on Thursday claimed the state government would knock on the doors of the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s decision to stay the reservation, notification of 15 wards in 10 village Panchayats.
Various aspirants for panchayat elections had approached the High Court challenging the notification of delimitation and reservation of wards in their respective village panchayats. While hearing the petition on Wednesday HC stayed the reservation notification of 15 wards in 10 village Panchayats
Speaking to reporters in Vasco, Godinho said that “I am very happy because there is enthusiasm as far as panchayat elections are concerned and it is spilling in Goa everywhere including in petitions in the court.”
He further added “Even though in the limited time that was available the government did its job by completing delimitation and reservations of wards in the village panchayat’s, some people have opposed it and filed petitions. Now as the decision has come from the court, I would not like to comment any further because the matter is sub judice, but we will also most probably knock at the doors of Supreme court and let the SC give its final verdict on the issue.”
Meanwhile after verbal directions were received from the Election Commission the Mormugao Mamlatdar who is also the returning officer from Mormugao for Panchayat elections on Thursday accepted nominations from the aspirants contesting from ward number 5 and 6 categorizing these two wards as general wards.
“Though we have not received any written communication from the EC about new reservation, notification changes made with regards to two wards including ward number 5 which was earlier notified as ladies ward and ward number 6 which was earlier notified as general ward under Sancoale VP. However now as the HC have stayed reservation, notification of ward number 5 and 6, thus on Thursday which was last day of filing nominations, we have accepted nominations from all applicants who were interested to file nominations considering both these wards as general wards” said Returning Officer Satish Prabhu.
Ironically uncertainty and moreover confusion looms large for the aspirants who have already filed nominations from these two wards (5 and 6) of Sancoale Panchayat. As per data obtained from the Returning officer Mormugao, before HC order on reservation, notification, about seven lady aspirants had already filed their nominations from ward number 5 as the same was reserved for ladies. They had even started their election campaign. Similarly till Wednesday about 3 male aspirants had filed their nominations from ward number 6 which was a general ward. After HC order one of the petitioner’s Ramakar Borkar has now filed his nominations from ward number 5 presently having all lady aspirants as fellow contestants. Since the HC order, aspirants from both these wards are left confused with no one knowing what to do next.
