PANJIM: The State Election Commission (SEC) on Friday declared the entire election process, including acceptance of nominations for five municipalities of Mapusa, Margao, Mormugao, Sanguem and Quepem, which were caught in litigation as ‘null and void’, days after the Supreme Court upheld the High Court order setting aside the elections in these municipal areas.
The election certificates issued to the candidates who had been declared elected unopposed also stand ‘null and void’. Three candidates from Quepem municipal area had been declared unopposed by the Election Authority.
In a notification issued, Election Commissioner WV Ramanamurthy also said that the Model Code of Conduct, which had come into force in these five municipalities from March 4 onwards, stands lifted with immediate effect.
The Supreme Court via an order dated March 12 had upheld the order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa setting aside the notification on municipal ward reservation in five municipalities and also stalling the election process. It had asked the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to issue fresh ward reservations within ten days and the SEC to complete the election process by April 30.
“Now therefore, the Goa State Election Commission in exercise of the powers conferred, do hereby declare that the election process from the acceptance of nominations till date for Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa, Quepem and Sanguem Municipal Councils to be null and void,” Ramanamurthy said announcing withdrawal of the notification issued on March 4, pertaining to resuming the election process, after the Supreme Court granted interim stay, initially, on the High Court judgment.
“The election certificates issued to the unopposed candidates in the municipal councils stands null and void,” he added.
