Panaji (Goa) The uncertainty over the fate of several hundred panchayat members in Goa are looming large after State government claiming that the association which has given them the certificate of belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) is unregistered.

Several panchayat members who have got elected from the OBC reserved wards have submitted the certificate from Association of Christian Backward Classes to prove their reserved status. The certificates are accepted by the authorities which has allowed them to contest in the reserved wards.

Now District Registrar has claimed that the association has not renewed its registration and hence it stands unregistered.

District Registrar V T Hadkonkar in a reply to the application filed by social activist Inacio Pereira of St Cruz has said that the association has not renewed its registration certificate till date therefore it becomes unregistered society under section 3 (B) 5 of the Societies Registration (Goa Second Amendment Act, 1998).

Pereira has already filed disqualification petition with the State Election Commission against a panch member from St Cruz panchayat which has submitted the certificate from the association to contest in the OBC reserved ward.