📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / A.Savin
Politics
Bombay High Court suspends Goa's Scheduled Tribe population estimate for assembly quota
✍️ India Today
🗓 30 Oct 2026, 09:32 AM
👁 16
The Bombay High Court has ordered a stay on the use of Goa's Scheduled Tribe population figures that determine the number of reserved assembly seats, pending further review.
The Bombay High Court issued an interim order halting the application of the latest Scheduled Tribe (ST) population estimate for Goa. The estimate, which forms the basis for allocating reserved seats in the state legislative assembly, will not be used until the court reviews the methodology and data.
The petition challenging the figures was filed by a coalition of tribal activists and political groups who argue that the count underrepresents the actual ST population, potentially affecting their electoral representation. The court noted that the matter raises substantial questions of public importance and directed the state government to maintain the existing quota arrangement in the meantime.
Goa's Chief Minister's office confirmed that the state will comply with the court's directive while it prepares a revised demographic assessment. The decision comes ahead of the next assembly elections, where the number of seats reserved for ST candidates is a contentious issue.
Legal experts suggest that the ruling could set a precedent for other states where demographic data for reservation purposes is disputed. The High Court has scheduled a hearing for next month to examine the petitioner's evidence and the government's response.
The petition challenging the figures was filed by a coalition of tribal activists and political groups who argue that the count underrepresents the actual ST population, potentially affecting their electoral representation. The court noted that the matter raises substantial questions of public importance and directed the state government to maintain the existing quota arrangement in the meantime.
Goa's Chief Minister's office confirmed that the state will comply with the court's directive while it prepares a revised demographic assessment. The decision comes ahead of the next assembly elections, where the number of seats reserved for ST candidates is a contentious issue.
Legal experts suggest that the ruling could set a precedent for other states where demographic data for reservation purposes is disputed. The High Court has scheduled a hearing for next month to examine the petitioner's evidence and the government's response.