Criticising Delay, Supreme Court Orders Maharashtra To Hold Local Body Polls By 31 January

The Supreme Court has directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) to complete elections to all local bodies in the state by 31 January 2026, the Live Law reported.

The court criticised the SEC for not meeting earlier deadlines and allowed an extension only as a one-time measure, ruling out any further delays.

The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, instructed that the ongoing delimitation process must be finished by 31 October 2025, and made clear that it cannot be used as a reason to postpone the polls.

Elections must cover all local bodies, including Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and municipalities. Any applications for logistical support must be filed by 31 October; no requests will be accepted afterwards.

During the hearing, the SEC cited challenges such as incomplete delimitation for municipalities, a shortage of electronic voting machines, staff constraints, and the non-availability of school premises because of board exams.

However, the court rejected these arguments, noting that the examinations scheduled for March 2026 cannot justify a delay.

The SEC has been instructed to submit a list of required personnel to the state’s Chief Secretary within two weeks.

The Chief Secretary must allocate the necessary staff, coordinating with other departments if needed, within four weeks.

The SEC must also arrange for an adequate supply of voting machines and file a compliance affidavit on their availability by 30 November.

The court suggested that petitions in the Bombay High Court concerning ward delimitation, reservation issues and other election matters could be consolidated before a single bench.

It also reiterated that polls should be held according to the reservation framework that existed before the Banthia Commission report of 2022, emphasising the need to uphold regular local body elections in the state.

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