Panaji: The deputy collector Canacona, who was appointed as electoral registration officer (ERO) for the upcoming municipal council elections, will be transferred within two days, the State told the high court on Monday.Advocate general Devidas Pangam made the statement in high court in a petition challenging Prataprao Gaunkar’s appointment as ERO on the grounds of conflict of interest.Pangam said Gaunkar will be transferred as Vasco deputy collector, and the deputy collector of Vasco, Bhagwant Karmali, will be posted as the new deputy collector of Canacona.The petition was filed by a sitting councillor, Shubham Komarpant, represented by advocate Om D’Costa, on the grounds that the officer is a voter of the same municipal area and is a relative of a sitting councillor.The officer was appointed as ERO in Feb to assist the state election commissioner in dividing Canacona municipal wards for the elections.On March 6, Komarpant filed his written objection with the SEC and then filed a petition saying there was inaction by the SEC. After the grievance was addressed, the petition was dismissed as withdrawn.
