Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 1: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will personally lead a state delegation to New Delhi to chalk out a legal strategy for challenging the Bombay High Court's interim order that has stalled the process of providing political reservation to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community in the Goa Legislative Assembly.

The Chief Minister on Saturday reiterated that the state government would approach the Supreme Court and make every possible effort to ensure that ST reservation is implemented before the 2027 Assembly elections.

The delegation will meet Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta in New Delhi to discuss the legal implications of the High Court order and determine the future course of action. It will include Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar, NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar and representatives of the ST community.

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The decision assumes significance as Tawadkar was initially expected to lead the delegation for consultations with the Solicitor General. However, Sawant has now decided to personally take charge of the discussions, underlining the importance the state government attaches to the issue.

Addressing reporters, Sawant reaffirmed his government's commitment to ensuring political representation for the tribal community through reservation of Assembly constituencies.

"We will make every possible effort to ensure ST reservation becomes a reality in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections," he said.

The Bombay High Court's interim order has restrained the Census Commissioner of India from notifying the estimated ST population in Goa, a crucial step in the process of identifying and reserving four Assembly constituencies for the community.

The order was passed while hearing a petition challenging the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025. The court raised concerns over the use of earlier Census figures to estimate the present ST population in the state.

The legal hurdle has created uncertainty over the implementation of the reservation process ahead of the next Assembly elections, expected in February-March 2027.

Sawant pointed out that the Goa government was not a direct party to the High Court proceedings that resulted in the interim order. Nevertheless, he maintained that the state would explore all available legal remedies and coordinate with the Central government to overcome the obstacles.

The issue of political reservation for Scheduled Tribes has remained a long-standing demand of tribal organisations in Goa, particularly representatives of the Kunbi, Gauda and Velip communities. The demand has gained momentum through sustained campaigns and protests seeking adequate political representation in the state legislature.

The proposed reservation of four Assembly constituencies was expected to provide the tribal community with greater participation in the state's political decision-making process.

With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, the government is under pressure to complete the legal and administrative procedures in time. Sawant has reiterated that his government will continue its efforts to ensure that the long-pending demand for political reservation is fulfilled.