The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Maharashtra State Election Commission for failing to conduct local body elections on time, and directed that elections to all local bodies in the state shall be conducted by January 31, 2026.
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi blasted the poll body for failing to adhere to the earlier schedule set by the Court for the local body elections. While extending the schedule as a “one-time concession,” on Tuesday, the top court made it clear that no further extension will be granted.
“Elections of all local bodies…shall be conducted by January 2026. No further extension shall be granted to the state or the state election commission. In case any other logistic assistance is required, SEC
should approach this court before October 31, 2025. No such prayer will be entertained thereafter,” the order stated as reported by Livelaw.
The apex court further directed that the ongoing delimitation exercise must be concluded by October 31, 2025, and warned that it cannot be cited as a ground to postpone elections.
In the previous hearing in May 2025, the top court asked the poll body to issue election notifications within four weeks and complete the polls within four months. Today, the bench expressed its dissatisfaction with the State Election Commission in complying with the order.
The Supreme Court also directed the SEC to submit details of staff required to the Chief Secretary of State within 2 weeks. The Chief Secretary, in consultation with secretaries of other depts, if so required, must provide requisite staff within 4 weeks thereafter. Details of officers to be deployed must be furnished to SEC within 4 weeks.
Over the issue of non-availability of requisite EVMs, the top court directed the SEC to make necessary arrangements and file a compliance affidavit regarding the availability of EVMs by November 30.
On being informed that various petitions have been filed before different benches of the Bombay High Court, raising election-related issues, questioning delimitation, reservation of wards, etc, the Court said that the State/SEC may seek clubbing of all petitions before one bench.
Local body elections in Maharashtra have been stalled since 2022 due to litigation over reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
