The High Court cancelled the by-election scheduled for April 9 after agreeing with the petitioners’ contention that the elected MLA would not be able to serve the mandatory minimum tenure of one year as required under the law. The Bombay High Court has ordered that the Ponda by-elections, which were set to begin on Thursday, will not proceed. The court also rejected a plea by the Election Commission of India seeking a two-week stay on the order, despite the fact that 171 voters had already cast their votes through postal ballots. Observing that proceeding with the election would be legally untenable, the court set aside the entire process, bringing the planned by-election to a halt.
ECI Rescinds Notification
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially cancelled the bye-election to the 21-Ponda Assembly Constituency following an order by the Bombay High Court at Goa declaring the poll process null and void.
In a notification dated April 8, 2026, the Commission stated that it has rescinded its earlier notification issued on March 16, 2026, which had announced the bye-election to fill the vacancy caused by the demise of former MLA Ravi Naik on October 15, 2025. The polling had been scheduled for April 9, 2026.
The decision comes in compliance with the High Court’s order in multiple writ petitions, which struck down the election notification. As a result, all actions and steps taken by the Returning Officer, District Election Officer, and other electoral authorities in connection with the bye-election have also been declared null and void.
The development effectively halts the electoral process in the Ponda constituency, just a day before voting was scheduled to take place.
