from daijiworld's special correspondent
Panaji, Feb 14: The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered the state government to complete the election process for 185 Panchayat bodies by May seven this year.
All these Panchayat bodies are currently being governed by respective Sarpanchas, who have been appointed as administrators by the state government.
A Division Bench of the Court pronounced the order while disposing of the petition by seven Sarpanchas seeking early polls to the panchayats.
The High Court ordered that state government should complete the entire election procedure by May seven, 2007. The elections are due for 185 out of 189 panchayat bodies in this coastal state.
The five-year term of the bodies expired on mid-night of January 30, 2007 and sans any elected representatives, the state government had to appoint respective Sarpanchas as the administrators.