Why Maharashtra Without Elected Local Leaders Since 2022? Supreme Court Breaks the Silence.
Tikam Shekhawat
New Delhi/Mumbai, May 6, 2025 :
The Supreme Court has mandated the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct long-pending local body elections within four months. These elections have been stalled since 2022 due to ongoing litigation over Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh directed the SEC to notify the elections within four weeks. The Court emphasized that the elections should proceed based on the OBC reservation framework that existed prior to the July 2022 Banthia Commission report.
The apex court clarified that this interim order does not affect the merits of the pending petitions challenging the Banthia Commission’s findings. The outcomes of the elections will be subject to the final decisions in these cases. Election Notification: SEC to announce election dates within four weeks.
Completion Timeline: Entire election process to be concluded within four months, with the possibility of extension upon request.
• OBC Reservation: Elections to follow the pre-July 2022 OBC reservation framework.
• Pending Petitions: Election outcomes subject to the Supreme Court’s final verdict on related petitions.
Justice Surya Kant criticized the prolonged delay in conducting elections, noting that unelected bureaucrats currently govern local bodies, leading to a lack of accountability and potential policy missteps. He emphasized the constitutional mandate for regular elections to uphold grassroots democracy.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Maharashtra government, agreed that elections should not be delayed further. Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, representing the petitioners, supported the Court’s stance and opposed conducting elections based on the Banthia Commission report, which had de-reserved approximately 34,000 OBC seats .
This directive paves the way for elections in major municipal corporations and councils, including those in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur, restoring democratic governance at the local level.
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