Reg. No. RNP/GOA/32/2024-2026
RNI No. GOAENG/2002/6410
SERIES II No. 46
Panaji, 16th February, 2026 (Magha 27, 1947) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
EXTRAORDINARY
No. 5
GOVERNMENT OF GOA
State Election Commission, Goa
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Order
No. 4/53/GEN-ELN/CCP/2025-26/SEC/892 Dated: 16-02-2026.
Sub.:- Manner of voting at General Elections to Corporation of the City of Panaji 2026.
Whereas, the General Elections to the Corporation of the City of Panaji in North Goa District of the State of Goa are scheduled to be held on 11th March, 2026.
And whereas, under Article 243ZA of the Constitution of India, read with Section 11(1) of the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002, the State Election Commission is vested with the powers of superintendence, direction and control for the conduct of the elections to the Corporation.
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers vested in me under Article 243 ZA of the Constitution of India and read with Section 11 of the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002 read with Rule 25 of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (Election) Rules, 2004, I, Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), State Election Commissioner, Goa do hereby decide that votes shall be given by Ballot in the manner provided in Part III of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (Election) Rules, 2004.
Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), Commissioner, State Election Commission, Goa.
Altinho-Panaji.
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Order
No. 4/53/GEN-ELN/CCP/2025-26/SEC/893 Dated: 16-02-2026.
Whereas, the General Elections to 30 wards of Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) in the State of Goa will be conducted on 11th March, 2026.
And whereas on the day of polling, the Presiding Officers are required to verify the identity of the elector with reference to his/her respective entry in the Voter's List at the Polling Booth.
Suggestions are welcomed on e-mail: [email protected] 1629OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES II No. 46 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 5) 16TH FEBRUARY, 2026 Now therefore, as a necessary measure to avoid the malpractice of impersonation, and in exercise of Article 243ZA of the Constitution of India and also under Section 11 of the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002 read with Rule 32 of the Corporation of City of Panaji (Election) Rules, 2004, the following documents are hereby prescribed; any one of which has to be produced by the Elector at the Polling Booth:
1. Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India.
2. Photo Identity Card issued by any department of Central Government or State Government or any Government Undertaking.
3. Smart Card or any other Photo Identity Card issued by the Government of India or Government of Goa.
4. Valid driving license or passport issued by the competent authority.
5. PAN card issued by the Income Tax department.
6. Pass book of any nationalized/scheduled/co-operative bank containing photograph of the account holder with stamp of the bank.
7. Photo Identity Card issued by the Head of any educational institute recognized by Government of India or Government of Goa.
8. Aadhar card.
The elector may produce any one of the above listed documents to establish his/her identity at the polling booth.
It is further clarified that in case of unclear photos or mismatch of photo on the EPIC issued by Election Commission of India, the issue of ballot paper shall not be refused merely on the ground of unclear photo or mismatch of photo, if the identity of the elector is otherwise established.
The Returning Officers shall provide a copy of this order to the Presiding Officers at the time of training.
Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), Commissioner, State Election Commission, Goa.
Altinho-Panaji.
________
Order
No. 4/53/GEN-ELN/CCP/2025-26/SEC/894 Dated: 16-02-2026.
Sub.:- Rate chart of the materials used for campaigning purposes in election.
Whereas, it has been considered necessary to notify uniform rate chart of the materials relating to campaign during elections;
And whereas, in order to facilitate and to maintain the accounts and to have uniformity amongst all the candidates, this Commission is generally adopting the applicable rate list of items as notified by the concerned Collector of the district and for the time being in force;
And therefore, the State Election Commission hereby adopts rate chart notified by the Collector, North Goa for General Election to Lok Sabha, 2024 vide Notification No. 6/46/2024/Rate-Chart/ELN/770 dated 16-03-2024.
And therefore, the State Election Commission hereby directs all the candidates that the expenses incurred by them during the campaign shall be calculated on the basis of the rate list Notification No. 6/46/2024/Rate-Chart/ELN/770 dated 16-03-2024.
OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES II No. 46 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 5) 16TH FEBRUARY, 2026The ROs for General Election to Corporation of the City of Panaji shall furnish a copy of the rate list of items adopted by the Commission i.e. Notification No. 6/46/2024/Rate-Chart/ELN/770 dated 16-03-2024 to the candidate while tendering the register to maintain the accounts of expenses.
This shall be followed scrupulously by all concerned and also taken into consideration by all the Expenditure Observers for expenditure calculation purposes.
Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), Commissioner, State Election Commission, Goa.
Altinho-Panaji.
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Order
No. 4/53/GEN-ELN/CCP/2025-26/SEC/895 Dated: 16-02-2026.
Sub.:- Appointment of General Observer (GO) for General Elections to 30 wards of Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) 2026.
Whereas, the General Elections to 30 wards of Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) in the State of Goa will be conducted on 11th March, 2026.
And whereas, under Article 243ZA of the Constitution of India, read with Section 11(1) of the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002, the State Election Commission is vested with the powers of superintendence, direction and control for the conduct of the elections to the Corporation.
Now, therefore, I, Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), State Election Commissioner, Goa, do hereby appoint the following Officer of Government of Goa as General Observer (GO) for the purpose of General Elections to 30 wards of Corporation of the City of Panaji to be held on 11th March, 2026.
Sr. Name and designation of the Officer appointed as General Observer Name of the Returning Officer No.
1. Shri Arvind B. Khutkar, Director, Department of Archives, Deputy Collector & SDO, Ribandar, Tiswadi, Goa
Tiswadi taluka, Panaji-Goa.
The observer shall look into public grievance regarding violations of Code of Conduct, Malpractices by the candidates and proper functioning of Returning Officer/Assistant Returning Officer.
The above appointed officer shall take charge of his duty immediately and he shall be functional till Election process is completed.
The duties and responsibilities attached to the Observer shall be as mentioned in the Order No. 1/199/ /Standing Orders/2020-SEC/1232 dated 30-10-2020.
The respective Controlling Officer shall relieve him immediately.
Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), Commissioner, State Election Commission, Goa.
Altinho-Panaji.
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Order
No. 4/53/GEN-ELN/CCP/2025-26/SEC/896 Dated: 16-02-2026.
Sub.:- Maximum Limit of Expenditure to be incurred by Contesting Candidates for General Election to Corporation of the City of Panaji 2026.
Read:- 1/199/Standing orders/2020-SEC/1233 dated 30-10-2020.
OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES II No. 46 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 5) 16TH FEBRUARY, 2026And whereas, under Article 243ZA of the Constitution of India, read with Section 11(1) of the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002, the State Election Commission is vested with the powers of superintendence, direction and control for the conduct of the elections to the Corporation.
Whereas, it is necessary and expedient to provide in the interest of purity of election to Corporation of the City of Panaji wards an account of expenditure incurred by the candidate and for matters connected therein.
Now, therefore, this Commission hereby directs as follows:-
1. Monitoring of election expenditures incurred by the candidates shall be as per above referred Order.
2. The maximum limit of total election expenses by a Contesting Candidate in a Ward of Corporation of the City of Panaji has been fixed at Rs. 2,50,000/- (Rs. Two lakh fifty thousand only).
Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), Commissioner, State Election Commission, Goa.
Altinho-Panaji.
________
Order
No. 4/53/GEN-ELN/CCP/2025-26/SEC/897 Dated: 16-02-2026.
Sub.:- Deposit for nominations.
Whereas, the General Election to Corporation of the City of Panaji 2026 has been declared vide Notification No. 4/53/GEN-ELN/CCP/2025-26/SEC/886 dated 16-02-2026.
And whereas, under Article 243ZA of the Constitution of India, read with Section 11(1) of the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002, the State Election Commission is vested with the powers of superintendence, direction and control for the conduct of the elections to the Corporation.
Now, therefore, as per Rule 14 of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (Election) Rules, 2004, the amount of deposit to be made by a candidate along with his/her nomination is shown in the tabulated format below for ready reference of the Returning Officer and Candidates.
For all General Category of Wards (unreserved) Rs. 2000/- (Two thousand only).
For all Reserved Category of Wards Rs. 1000/- (One thousand only).
Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), Commissioner, State Election Commission, Goa.
Altinho-Panaji.
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Order
No. 4/53/GEN-ELN/CCP/2025-26/SEC/899 Dated: 16-02-2026.
Sub.:- Filing of affidavit for CCP Elections.
In exercise of the powers conferred with this Commission under Article 243 ZA of the Constitution of India read with Section 11 of the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002, I, Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), State Election Commissioner, Goa hereby directs as under:-
OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES II No. 46 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 5) 16TH FEBRUARY, 2026Whereas, as per sub-rule (2) of Rule 12 of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (Election) Rules, 2004 as amended vide Notification No. 11/22/2015-DMA/2890 dated 05-02-2016 it is incumbent upon the candidates to file an affidavit in the prescribed Form XXVI alongwith the nomination.
And whereas, if any candidate fails to file the said affidavit alongwith the nomination paper, the Returning Officer should bring this defect to the notice of the candidate/proposer presenting the nomination form.
It is further directed that no column of the affidavit should be left blank or filled by just tick/dash marking. If the information asked for in a column is Nil or not applicable to the particular candidate, then he should write "Nil" or "Not applicable" in that column.
A copy of blank Form XXVI should be issued to the candidate or proposer along with the nomination paper and candidate should be asked to file duly sworn affidavit alongwith the nomination papers.
In case there is a request from any person to seek copies of the affidavit filed by a candidate/candidates, they may be given a copy on payment of copying charges at the rate of Rs. 2/- per page.
If any candidate fails to file prescribed affidavit till the last date and time of nominations, the RO shall reject his candidature during scrutiny for non-compliance of sub-rule (2) of Rule 12 of the Corporation of City of Panaji (Election) Rules, 2004.
The RO shall not go into the aspect of verification/truthfulness of the contents of the affidavit sworn by the candidate during the scrutiny of the Nominations or during the election process.
Given under the seal of this Commission.
Menino D'Souza, IAS (Retd.), Commissioner, State Election Commission, Goa.
Altinho-Panaji.
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