Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The State Election Commission, Goa has officially declared the entire ward delimitation exercise undertaken for the general elections to 11 municipal councils as null and void, effectively cancelling all related orders and notifications issued earlier.
In an extraordinary gazette notification, the Commission stated that the delimitation process has become “infructuous” following the enforcement of the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, which introduced amendments to Sections 9, 10, and 11 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968.
The delimitation process had been initiated through multiple orders and public notices issued between February and March 2026 for municipal councils including Pernem, Valpoi, Bicholim, Mapusa, Mormugao, Margao, Cuncolim, Quepem, Canacona, Curchorem-Cacora and Sanguem.
Subsequently, the Department of Urban Development informed the Commission regarding the publication of the amended ordinance, prompting a review of the ongoing exercise in line with the revised legal provisions.
After examining the changes, the State Election Commission concluded that the earlier delimitation exercise could not be sustained under the amended framework and must be treated as invalid.
The order, signed by Menino D’Souza, IAS (Retd.), Commissioner, State Election Commission, Goa, confirms that the entire delimitation process already carried out stands cancelled.
