Panaji: Goa Bench of Bombay High Court on Monday ordered state government to redo the exercise of reservations of wards in five out of eleven municipal councils that will go for polls this month.
Total nine petitions were filed against the reservation of wards before the HC, the verdict on which was given on Monday.
The Bench ordered that the notification issued by Directorate of Municipal Administration (Goa government) on February 04, 2021 reserving various wards for the upcoming municipal elections is set aside in the civic bodies of Margao, Mormugao, Mapusa, Sanguem and Quepem.
The Bench ordered that the election process for other municipalities should continue as per the schedule announced by State Election Commission.
State Election Commission had scheduled elections for eleven municipal councils and Corporation of City of Panaji on March 20.
The High Court had heard arguments on the petitions filed on the reservation of wards, while verdict was reserved for Monday.
On February 22, State Election Commission had stated that the elections to the Corporation of City of Panaji and eleven municipal councils will take place on March 20. Around 2.5 lakh voters are eligible to participate in the polling process.
