Today,The Supreme Court granted a two-week extension to complete Maharashtra local body elections after considering the State Election Commission’s request. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi approved the plea seeking extra time beyond January 31.
NEW DELHI: Today, the Supreme Court granted a two-week extension to complete the election process for local bodies in Maharashtra.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joyamalya Bagchi approved the extension after the State Election Commission (SEC), represented by senior advocate Balbir Singh, informed the court that it had filed an interlocutory application requesting an additional 10 days beyond the original deadline of January 31.
Singh noted that while the court had set the January 31 deadline, approximately 10 more days are necessary to conduct elections for certain zila parishads and panchayats.
The present dispute concerns the conduct of local body elections in Maharashtra, which have remained pending due to challenges surrounding the validity of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) recommended by the Banthia Commission for local self-governing institutions. As recorded in its order dated 06 May 2025, the Supreme Court had earlier noted that elections could not be held owing to uncertainty over the legality of OBC reservations.
The Court directed the State of Maharashtra and the State Election Commission to notify local body elections within a stipulated period and clarified that, pending final adjudication, OBC reservations would be implemented strictly in accordance with the legal position that prevailed in the State prior to the 2022 Banthia Commission report.
It further directed that efforts should be made to complete the election process within four months, subject to extensions being sought in appropriate circumstances. Importantly, all elections were to remain subject to the final outcome of the pending proceedings.
As per the timeline set by the Court, elections were expected to conclude by 06 September 2025. However, the Court was informed that the election notification has not yet been issued. Upon seeking an explanation, counsel for the State government and the State Election Commission jointly submitted that while delimitation for Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis has been completed, the delimitation process for municipalities and other local bodies is still ongoing.
In light of these developments, the State Election Commission has filed an application seeking extension of time. The Commission cited multiple administrative constraints, including inadequate availability of electronic voting machines, non-availability of school premises for polling due to ongoing board examinations, and the inability to secure a sufficient number of officers to discharge election-related duties.
Earlier, on September 16, the Supreme Court slammed Maharashtra State Election Commission for delaying local body elections, saying,
“Your inaction reflects incompetence.”
In It’s earlier order, court directed that,
“The elections of all the local bodies, including the Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and the Municipalities shall be conducted by 31.01.2026. It is made clear that no further extension shall be granted to the State or the State Election Commission.”
It further directed that,
“In case the State Election Commission requires any other logistic support on the intervention of this Court, an appropriate application be filed in that regard promptly, and in any case by or before 31.10.2025. No such prayer shall be entertained thereafter.”
The Court further granted a two-week extension to complete the election process.