Margao Congress Block has alleged that the ward reservation process in the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is being manipulated, raising concerns over compliance with legal procedures and Supreme Court guidelines.
Addressing a press briefing, Block Convener Savio Coutinho, along with party members including Lincoln Gomes, Adv Snehal Onskar, Anwar Naroo and others, claimed that recent administrative actions point to irregularities in the compilation of data for Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation.
Coutinho said an order issued by the Chief Officer of MMC deputed four staff members to the Goa State Commission for Backward Classes in Panaji for ward-wise compilation of OBC data. He pointed out that this step came over 40 days after the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) had directed municipal councils to assign staff for the exercise.
According to Coutinho, the delay raises questions about the integrity of the data collection process. He alleged that the compilation of OBC population data may have been compromised under political influence.
He further stated that the DMA had issued a directive on February 12, 2026, to 11 municipal councils to carry out ward-wise OBC data compilation. The exercise was meant to comply with the “triple test” mandated by the Supreme Court in relation to reservation for OBCs in local bodies.
Coutinho also claimed that the reservation exercise may have already been completed but kept pending for declaration, which he said could limit fair opportunity for candidates. He alleged that ward reservation charts may have been decided without following due process.
He linked the recent deputation order to a petition filed before the High Court by an ST candidate, stating that the move appeared to be a response to legal scrutiny.
The Margao Congress Block criticised the MMC for what it described as a pattern of disregarding court directives. Coutinho said the party would approach the High Court if there is any attempt to manipulate the reservation process.
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