The Supreme Court bench further instructed that the delimitation exercise must be completed by October 31, 2025, adding that any delay in this process would not be accepted as a reason to postpone elections
Granting a one-time extension, the Supreme Court stated that no further delay would be granted. Representational Pic/File
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct local body elections across the state no later than January 31 2026, reported the IANS.
The apex court bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi pulled up the state authorities for failing to comply with an earlier directive, which had required the polls to be held within four months -- by August 2025 -- following the restoration of seats for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to their status prior to the 2022 J.K. Banthia Commission changes.
Granting a one-time extension, the Supreme Court stated that no further delay would be granted, according to the IANS.
The bench further instructed that the delimitation exercise must be completed by October 31, 2025, adding that any delay in this process would not be accepted as a reason to postpone elections.
In an interim order dated 6 May, the apex court had asked the SEC to notify the local body elections within four weeks and to aim to conclude the election process within four months. However, it also clarified that the SEC may apply for an extension if necessary, but elections would remain subject to the final outcome of petitions challenging the Banthia Commission’s recommendations, as per the IANS.
Previously, in August 2022, a bench headed by then Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana had ordered the Maharashtra government and the SEC to maintain status quo regarding the local body election process.
Earlier still, in July 2022, the Supreme Court had accepted the Banthia Commission’s recommendation of a 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in local body elections and had directed that elections be notified within two weeks.
In December 2021, the Court had ruled that OBC reservation in local bodies would be permitted only if the state fulfilled the triple test laid down in its 2010 judgment.
These conditions include -- establishing a dedicated commission to collect empirical data on OBC population, determining the exact proportion of the reservation and ensuring that total reservations do not exceed 50 per cent of seats.
The Maharashtra government had introduced the OBC quota via ordinance in 2021, stating it was essential for ensuring adequate political representation for the community under the constitutional framework.
(with IANS inputs)
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