Goemkaponn Desk
NEW DELHI: In a major setback to Goa Government, the Supreme Court today upheld the Bombay High court at Goa judgement to stall the civic election process of five Municipalities, which were set to go for polls on March 21.
While rejecting all the Special Leave Petition filed by the Goa government, the Apex Court set aside the
Government’s notification regarding municipal reservation in Margao, Mormugao, Mapusa, Quepem and Sanguem.
The Court directed the State Municipal Administration to issue fresh ward reservation with regards to five Municipalities within ten days from today.
The State Election Commission is directed to complete the entire election process by April 30.
The Goa government had last week filed SLPs in The Supreme Court challenging High Court order to cancel the Election process in five constituency citing anomalies in the reservation process adopted to reserve wards for women category.
The Supreme Court had initially granted interim stay on the High Court order.
Following the stay, the Election authority went ahead with the poll process and scheduled polling in five Municipalities on March 21 and counting on March 22.
Meanwhile, the supreme Court also slammed Goa government for giving additional charge of State Election Commissioner to Law Secretary IAS Chokha Ram Garg. It has now asked State to appoint independent Election Commissioner.
