Pulling up Goa govt, Supreme Court says govt officers can’t be appointed SECs

The Supreme Court Friday stated entrusting extra cost of State Election Commissioner to a authorities official resulted in mockery of the Constitution, and ordered the Goa authorities to nominate an impartial election commissioner. The state authorities had given extra cost of State Election Commissioner to the state’s Law Secretary.
The high courtroom additionally directed all state election commissioners throughout the nation, who presently maintain extra cost, to step down instantly, stating {that a} authorities worker or bureaucrat can’t be appointed as Election Commissioner.
A Bench of Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman, B R Gavai and Hrishikesh Roy, was listening to an enchantment by the Goa authorities towards an order of the Bombay High Court which had issued a keep on sure municipal election notifications issued by the Goa State Election Commission.
The apex courtroom upheld the High Court order concerning municipal reservations and directed the state authorities to inform reservations for the municipalities of Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa, Quepem and Sanguem inside the subsequent 10 days. It additionally directed the State Election Commission to finish the election course of by April 30.
Reacting to the decision, Opposition chief Vijai Sardesai tweeted: “The highest court of the land has crushed Pramod Sawant’s blatant attempt to violate our Constitution and derail Democracy; he’s brought disgrace not only to Goa but also to his own leader Narendra Modi who had bowed before the Constitution before taking office in 2019. The pat on the back Pramod Sawant expected has come as a slap on the face… It’s no more about resigning as Goa CM, he has no moral right to remain in public life.”
The apex courtroom had, final Thursday, stayed the decision of the High Court, which had put aside the notification on reservation of wards in 5 municipal councils.
Taking to Twitter, Sawant had then stated, “Hon. Supreme Court has stayed the High Court’s order cancelling elections to five municipalities and consequent order of the State Election Commission keeping the election process in abeyance. Matter to come up for final hearing on Tuesday. Now, the democratic process has been restored!”