SC sets deadline for Maharashtra government, State EC to hold local body polls
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Supreme Court Sets Deadline for Maharashtra Local Body Elections
In a key ruling, the Supreme Court has ordered the Maharashtra government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to wrap up local body elections in the state by January 31, 2026. This comes after the court expressed frustration over delays in holding these much-needed polls.
A bench led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi didn’t hold back. They slammed the authorities for ignoring an earlier order from May 6, which had demanded notifications for the elections within four weeks and the polls themselves within four months. "Why the hold-up?" the court asked during the hearing, pointing out that the SEC had failed to act swiftly.
To get things moving, the judges set a tight timeline: Complete the delimitation exercise—redrawing boundaries for local wards—by October 10 this year. They made it clear this is a one-time extension, and no more delays will be tolerated. Delimitation can’t be an excuse to push back the Maharashtra local body elections any further.
During the session, lawyers for the state admitted the process was ongoing but incomplete in many areas. They blamed logistical headaches, like a shortage of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the challenge of running elections for multiple municipal corporations at once. But the court wasn’t buying it. "You knew about these issues when we first ordered the polls," the judges shot back, showing clear displeasure.
Petitioners, who have been fighting for timely elections, highlighted how the state missed even the two-week deadline to issue notifications. They listed excuses like festivals, board exams, staff shortages, and EVM problems as reasons for unfinished delimitation work.
Pushing for action, the Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra Chief Secretary to step in right away. Deploy returning officers and other staff immediately to kickstart the election process. The SEC must submit its staffing needs to the Chief Secretary within two weeks. In turn, the Chief Secretary has four weeks to arrange the personnel, possibly pulling from other departments, and share the list of officers with the SEC.
On the EVM front, the court told the SEC to secure enough machines and file an affidavit by November 30, 2025, confirming everything is ready. No more stalling on that either.
This isn’t the first time the top court has stepped in. Back in May, it had flagged that Maharashtra’s local body elections hadn’t happened for years, mainly due to disputes over OBC reservations. With this new directive, residents can finally look forward to fresh polls in municipal corporations, panchayats, and other local bodies, strengthening grassroots democracy in the state.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
