Digital Goa, November 18 – AG Devidas Pangam asserted that the State govt has fully complied with the Supreme Court–mandated triple test criteria while reserving seats for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections. Speaking to the media after the hearing of three petitions challenging the reservation of seats, Pangam said the government and the SEC will file their affidavits before the next hearing scheduled on November 25. The petitions, filed by Manuel Borges, Moreno Rebelo and Gajanan Tilve, challenge the reservation of the Nuvem, Curtorim and Anjuna ZP constituencies. Along with other arguments the main argument of the petitioners is that the State failed to comply with the triple test— a mandatory process that requires establishing quantifiable data of backwardness, proportionate representation and adherence to overall reservation limits. They have also urged the Court to restrain the SEC from announcing election dates until the government files its detailed response. Responding to this, AG Pangam stated that the authorities had “fully complied” with all requirements. “The Election Commission and the OBC Commission studied the matter. Population statistics were analysed, calculations were done based on records, the political backwardness of communities was assessed and constituencies were reserved accordingly,” Pangam said.
He added that the government’s affidavit would be filed within the week. Revised ZP election date of December 20 provides adequate time for issuing the election notification, he opined. Pangam also indicated that the High Court’s final order in the matter is likely to be delivered on November 25.
