Govt urges HC for time extension to local bodies election in Goa

Panaji, Apr 2 (UNI) The Goa government today filed a miscellaneous civil application (MCA) before the Bombay High Court here, pleading to reverse the earlier judgement for extension of the time to hold elections to 185 village panchayats in the state and permit it to hold elections within a period of 30 days after the completion of state Legislative Assembly proceedings.

On February 13, the court in its judgement had extended the time limit to hold elections to the village panchayat in Goa till May 7.

The application will come up for hearing tomorrow.

Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner (SEC) P M Borkar, who had already announced the date of general election to 185 village panchayats to be held on April 29, said the process of filing the nomination papers, started today and it would continue till April 9.

Mr Borkar said though no candidates filed the nomination papers on the first day, a lot of nomination papers had been taken by the interested candidates both in North and South Goa.

The SEC has enforced the code of conduct and has also set a limit on expediture to be incurred by the candidate or by his authorised agent and other individuals for the election.

The nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 10 and 11. The withdrawal of the nomination papers will be done on April 12 and counting of votes will be done on April 30 and May 1.

UNI