SC green lights local body polls

Top court says results of all local bodies in Maharashtra where quota exceeds 50% will remain subject to the outcome of the writ petitions. Hearing on January 21

- FPJ News Service

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra to go ahead as scheduled, but made it clear that the results in all bodies where the reservation limit has crossed 50% will be subject to the final outcome of ongoing litigation.

The Court also restrained the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) from notifying any new reservation that exceeds the 50% cap.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that elections could proceed, but the legality of the fresh OBC reservation matrix introduced by the State, based on findings of the Banthia Commission, will be examined by a larger Bench.

The matter has now been referred to a three-judge Bench and will be heard on January 21, 2026, Live Law and Bar & Bench report.

The Court’s directions pave the way for long-pending local body elections in Maharashtra, stalled since 2021, to finally take place, but leave the future of the contested OBC quota structure dependent on the three-judge Bench’s decision in January.