SHAH, J.: -These four writ petitions relate to the election of Panaji Municipal Council. They involve a common question. They have been heard together and shall be disposed of by this common judgment.

2. On December 20, 1995, the State Election Commissioner of Goa issued an order under Section 11 of the Goa Municipalities Act (for short "the Act") and notified thereby that the electoral roll of the Goa Legislative Assembly prepared under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and for the time being in force, as on that day, of December 20, 1995, for such constituency of the Assembly or any part thereof as is included in the municipal area, shall be divided and authenticated by Mamlatdar of Tiswadi taluka in which Panaji Municipal Council is situated into different sections corresponding to the different wards in the municipal area as fixed under Section 10 of the Act.

The State Election Commissioner on December 29, 1995 published the calendar of events of the election programme under which the last date for filing the nominations for the election was fixed as February 3, 1996.Under that calendar of events, the date for taking the poll was