Supreme Court Warns Maharashtra Over Local Body Elections Quota Breach
Maharashtra
The Supreme Court of India has told the Maharashtra government that local-body election reservations cannot exceed the 50 % limit, flagging numerous municipal councils for breaches.
Mumbai November 25, 2025 – The Supreme Court has issued a stern warning to the Maharashtra government during the run-up to the local-body elections, saying that total reservations of seats in municipal councils must not exceed the 50 % constitutional threshold. The court emphasised that while a commission had been mandated to review backward-class reservations, elections cannot proceed under a rule that breaches the cap. According to the bench, authorities must revert to the earlier reservation matrix in force before the commission’s recommendations, until the legal challenge is resolved.
The issue centers around reservations in more than forty municipal councils across Maharashtra, where the draft seat-allocation plan reportedly results in reserved seats crossing the 50 % mark. The Banthia Commission’s report, submitted in 2022, proposed fresh percentages for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) that, when combined with Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) allocations, pushed the total beyond the permissible limit. The Supreme Court noted that the report is still under challenge and hence cannot serve as a basis for elections that override the established quota ceiling.
Officials from the state’s election department acknowledged the court’s observation and said they are reviewing the reservation drafts accordingly. They emphasised that elections cannot be held in constituencies where the cap is breached and that nomination processes may be stayed if the violation persists. The court made it clear that any attempt to proceed despite the quota limit would invite intervention and possibly a halt to the polls.
Analysts say the timing of the court’s intervention is significant. Maharashtra had scheduled local-body elections for hundreds of urban and rural governing bodies, and the reservation matrix was being finalised. However, the revelation that some councils had reserved more than half the seats triggered legal risk for the state. For local officials and political parties, this uncertainty may delay elections, shift strategic planning and complicate candidate selection.
From a governance perspective, the dispute underscores the balancing act between providing adequate representation to historically disadvantaged groups and adhering to constitutional limits. The 50 % cap, established by prior landmark rulings, exists to maintain a balance so that a substantial portion of seats remain in the “open” category. When reservations exceed that threshold, the court has held that it risks upsetting that balance and may undermine the principle of equality of opportunity.
For citizens, the immediate impact could include delays or re-notice of elections, depending on how quickly the state resolves the issue. Political observers warn that if municipal polls are postponed, there may be administrative arrangements in place for longer periods, affecting local governance. Some parties may use this period to strengthen local organisation, while others may confront uncertainty in their mobilisation plans.
The Maharashtra government has reportedly committed to aligning the reservation list with the court’s directions, reviewing allocations and ensuring compliance before moving ahead. Meanwhile, advocates and civil-society groups are monitoring the process, emphasising transparency in how reserved seats are earmarked and how the “open” seats are maintained to avoid over-reserving.
In sum, the Supreme Court’s latest directive to Maharashtra marks a critical moment in the state’s local-body election process. With reservations for dozens of municipal councils in question, the path ahead depends on whether the state can promptly rectify allocations and adhere to the quota ceiling—or face postponements and legal intervention.
