The State Election Commission is duty bound to conduct timely elections to Panchayats and it cannot abdicate this statutory and Constitutional obligation says Prabhakar Timble, former State Election Commissioner of Goa.

His comment comes in view of the declaration of Panchayat elections on 25th June.

He further said that SEC should immediately approach the Governor, the authority charged to defend the law and the Constitution and if required move the High Court for directions to guard its independence and commitment.

It is true that the power to fix the date of Panchayat polls lies with the Goa government in consultation with the State Election Commission. However, it does not mean that the government has the choice to fix the date after the expiry of the term of Panchayat as it would be unsustainable under the Panchayat statute and Constitution, he added.

Team TNV