IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA WRIT PETITION NO. 784 OF 2010 VIKAS VISHWANATH PRABHU AND 11 ORS., ... Petitioners Versus STATE OF GOA, BY SECRETARY ... Respondent Mr. A.F. Diniz, Advocate for the Petitioners. Mr. S.S. Kantak, Advocate for the Mr. P. Talaulikar, Additional Government Advocate for Respondents Nos.1 & 2. Mr. N. Sardessai, Advocate for Respondents Nos.3 to 20. Mr. M.S. Sonak, Advocate for the the intervenor. Coram:- S. C. DHARMADHIKARI & F. M. REIS, JJ. Date:- 3rd May, 2011 P.C.: Heard both sides. 2. After the petition was argued for sometime, the parties have agreed that it can be disposed of with the direction that the elections of the Goa Agricultural Marketing Board can be held at an early date. 3. The affidavits were filed indicating the time that would be required at the level of the Goa Agriculture Marketing Board and the State Government. 4. Mr. Sardessai, appearing on behalf of the Board and the present Committee states that the process that is to be undertaken for preparation of voters list and prior thereto bye laws would entail considerable time. According to him bye laws can be made but for preparation of voters' list the inquiries, and particularly, all the aspects notified in para 13 of the affidavit of Chandrahas D. Paldessai, Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies and Secretary of the Goa Agriculture Marketing Board, are required to be undertaken. 5. The learned Advocate General states that after the voters' list is prepared and forwarded to the level of the State Government, and particularly, Registrar, a further period of four months would be required and elections can be concluded only thereafter. 6. Mr. Diniz, appearing on behalf of the petitioners states that the time of eleven months that is sought on behalf of respondents nos.3 to 20 is unduly long and this is nothing but an attempt to avoid completion of democratic process and hold on to the office. 7. After parties are agreed that the petition can be disposed of with the direction to hold early elections, we have heard the Counsel only on the aspect of the time limit that is required for holding of the elections. After hearing them and perusing their affidavits, we are of the opinion that the Goa State Agricultural Marketing Board can be given three months time from today to frame bye laws and to prepare voters' list and, thereafter, forward it to the appropriate Authority in the State Government. The State Government shall complete the election process within a period of four months from the date it receives the voters' list. 8. In these circumstances, in our view, the outer limit of seven months that is provided by our order and direction would suffice and meet the ends of justice. No other directions except to hold the elections in accordance with the rules would serve the ends of justice and the petition can be disposed of accordingly. 9. The petition is disposed of accordingly. S. C. DHARMADHIKARI, J. F. M. REIS, J. NH