Overview
- A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa granted an interim stay on Thursday that prevents the Census Commissioner from publishing any estimated Scheduled Tribe population figures for Goa.
- The court stressed the Census office had told the Union ministry on September 10 that available data could not ascertain current population figures, yet the office had 'reasonably presumed' a 9.9% ST share from the 2001 census.
- Judges found the petitioner established an arguable case that the 2025 Readjustment Act and the use of unverified estimates conflict with Articles 170(3) and 332 of the Constitution, and that Section 3(4) of the Act would make any published figures final and immune to judicial review.
- The interim order pauses the administrative step that would trigger ST reservation readjustment and the Goa government says it may ask the Centre to move the Supreme Court to protect ST interests before the expected 2027 Assembly polls.
- The dispute builds on prior rulings that limit fresh delimitation until the first post‑2026 census, and the court’s decision leaves open further litigation over methodology, timing and whether the matter will be resolved by a higher court.