Goemkarponn Desk
DELHI: In a Major relief for Goa government and State Election Commission (SEC) as Supreme Court (SC) has stayed the judgment of High Court of Bombay at Goa on municipal elections reservation matter.
In addition, Supreme Court also Suo Motu stayed the order of Goa State Election Commission keeping in abeyance the election code of conduct in Margao, Mormugao, Mapusa, Quepem and Sanguem Municipal Councils. The order had come following high court directives to do so and issue fresh notification.
The matter has been kept for final disposal on Tuesday March 9.
The Goa government had filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order to stall the election process across five Municipalities, which were set to go for polls on March 20, along with six other Municipal councils.
The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court on March 1 set aside a notification issued by the State government’s Directorate of Municipal Administration reserving various wards in five out of 11 civic bodies where elections will be held later this month.
The court ordered the Goa government to reconduct the exercise of reservation of wards in the five Municipal Councils of Margao, Mormugao, Mapusa, Sanguem and Quepem.
The Bench said the election process in other Municipalities should continue as per the schedule announced by State Election Commission (SEC).
The Directorate of Municipal Administration on February 4, 2021 issued the notification reserving various wards in these five civic bodies for the upcoming polls.
