Ordinance out: Civic chiefs to be elected by show of hands

PANAJI: Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai on Thursday promulgated the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022, which allows elections for chairperson and vice-chairperson of municipalities to be conducted by show of hands.
“Provided further that notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or the rules made there under, the election of a chairperson and a vice-chairperson shall be taken by show of hand,” the ordinance said.
While issuing the ordinance, the state government said that since the legislative assembly of Goa is not in session and the governor of Goa is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action. Tnn
On Tuesday, ahead of the election to the Margao Municipal Council, the state cabinet granted its approval to amend the act to elect chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of municipal bodies by show of hand, instead of by secret ballot.
A day after former chief minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat joined BJP, GFP’s Vijai Sardesai tapped the anti-Kamat mood and retained the Margao municipality. However, three days after getting elected, a no-confidence motion was moved against Ghanashyam Shirodkar, who later resigned.
Shirodkar then moved the high court apprehending that elections to the post of chairperson will not be held by secret ballot.
“Rule 7 of the Goa Municipalities (Chairperson and Vice Chairperson Elections) Rules, 1969, is also quite clear. Therefore, considering the rule, we do not accept that any serious apprehension can be entertained by the petitioner that the forthcoming elections will not be held in accord with the rules. Based merely upon press reports, neither can such apprehensions be entertained nor can such petitions be filed. For the above reasons, we decline to entertain this petition,” the high court observed.