Section 10 in The Goa Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat (Election Procedure) Rules, 1996
10. Power of the Government to appoint dates etc. for holding elections.
(1)The Government, in consultation with the Commissioner, or, shall, after it is decided to hold an election in the Village Panchayats or Zilla Panchayats concerned, by notification in the Form I or Form I-A as the case may be, appoint the date(s) for holding election thereof.(2)The Commissioner shall take such necessary steps for fixing the dates and hours for following stages of an election namely:-(i)The nomination of candidates;(ii)The scrutiny of nomination;(iii)The withdrawal of nomination;(iv)The counting of votes;Provided that:-(i)between the date fixed for the nomination of candidate and the date fixed for the recording of votes, there is at least an interval of 15 days; and(ii)the date(s) for the scrutiny of nominations shall be the date(s) immediately following the date(s) fixed for the nomination of candidates.(3)On the issue of notification under sub-rule (1), the Commissioner shall give public written notice in Form No. 2 or 2-A as the case may be, of the intended election not less than [seven] [The word 'seven' has been substituted for the word 'fifteen' by 1st Amendment Rules, 1999, published in O. G., Series I No. 31 dated 30-10-1999.] days before the last date fixed for the nomination of candidates inviting nominations of candidates for such election and specifying the place where nomination papers are to be delivered. Copies of notice shall be published by affixing at the Village Panchayat Office, Office of the Mamlatdar, Office of the Block Development Officer, Office of Chief Executive Officer and if necessary, at any other place in the Panchayat area appointed by the Commissioner.(4)The date(s) and hours appointed under sub-rules (1), (2) and (3) shall not be changed except with the previous sanction of the Commissioner:Provided that if the Government is of the opinion that it is necessary in the public interest to change the date(s) so fixed and if there is no sufficient time for obtaining the previous sanction of the Commissioner to such change, the Government may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, change such a date(s). In every such case, the Government shall forthwith forward a copy of its order and the reasons so recorded to the Commissioner.(5)The Government shall also publish in the said notice in Form No. 1, the date(s) and hours of poll may be notified by it under section 15 of the Act.
