PANJIM, April 28 -- The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI), New Delhi, to file its reply by May 8 to the decision to cancel the bypoll in the Ponda Assembly constituency.

During the hearing of the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Congress Party candidate Dr Ketan K Prabhu Bhatikar, the apex court bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta held that the interpretation of Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, was crucial.

The petitioner has challenged the order dated April 8, 2026, passed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, setting aside the notification dated March 15, 2026, issued by the ECI announcing the schedule for the by-election to the Pon...