The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday restrained the Census Commissioner from notifying the estimated Scheduled Tribes (STs) population in the state. The interim order is likely to put the process of reserving four seats for STs in the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections on hold.

The petitioner, Edwin Lucio Fernandes, had challenged the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, arguing that the Act is unconstitutional. The Act was enacted in August 2025 to enable reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Assembly and brought into force in August 2026.…