PANJIM: Bombay High Court at Goa has refused to stay the Zilla Panchayat elections, scheduled on December 12.
A petition was filed pleading for fresh process to hold polls.
The ZP elections were scheduled to be held on March 23, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SEC said that as the polls were postponed after campaigning ended there was no need for additional time for preparation.
On the petition in the High Court against the elections, Garg said that the SEC will file its reply in the High Court.
The SEC said that there would be no public campaigning allowed and that the model code of conduct comes into force and will be in force till December 14 midnight.
In wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said all arrangements have been made to see that the strict SOPs are followed by the polling staff as well as the voters. He also said that voters will not be allowed to vote without masks.
“Positive COVID-19 patients will be allowed polling in last hour of polling with proper PPEs etc,” he said.