Panaji: Reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the high court decision to cancel elections in five municipalities over reservation of wards, chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that “now, the democratic process has been restored”. Speaking to reporters, Sawant said, “I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court as it is in the direction to restore democracy.” When asked if the high court order was a setback to the government, the chief minister said, “We are trying to establish democracy.” Advocate general Devidas Pangam had said that one of the grounds of appeal is that “the courts cannot stall the democratic process like this”. He had also said that as per Article 243 ZG of the Constitution, there is a complete bar on courts interfering in the election process.