PANJIM: The process of reservation of wards in five municipal councils has been completed and would be notified on Tuesday, March 16.
According to sources in the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), the wards reservation of five municipal councils of Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa, Quepem and Sanguem will now be changed and the new reservation would be notified on Tuesday.
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There will be no increase in wards but only one-third reservation of wards has been made by strictly adhering to the court directives. Atleast one more ward will be reserved for women candidates and the new poll schedule in the five municipal councils will also be announced.
The High Court of Bombay had quashed and set aside the notification dated February 4, 2021 issued by the DMA and had directed them to issue a fresh notification within 10 days ensuring one-third wards reservation for women candidates in five municipal councils.
But the State government approached the Supreme Court seeking to stay the High Court judgement. As the apex court granted interim stay, the government restarted the election process in five municipal councils and rescheduled polling to March 21.
However, on March 12, the top court upheld the High Court’s verdict and directed the Goa government to issue fresh notification within a period of 10 days and to complete the entire election process by April 30.
At the same time, the apex court rebuked the Goa government for appointing in-service officer as the State Election Commissioner and directed all States not to appoint government officers as Election Commissioner, asserting that the independence of State Election Commissions cannot be compromised in a democracy.
