THE SUPREME COURT on Friday directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) to notify elections to the remaining local bodies with reservations for SC/ST and OBC communities capped at 50%, and clarified that the results of elections already underway—where the reservation exceeds this ceiling—will remain subject to the outcome of the petitions challenging such excess reservation.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, while noting that elections are progressing in several local bodies, said that “the results of local bodies where reservation exceeds 50% will be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.” The bench added that even the results of elections conducted within the 50% cap would ultimately abide by the final adjudication.
The matter has now been referred to a three-judge bench and listed for January 21, 2026.
According to data placed on record by the SEC, elections are presently underway in 246 municipal councils and 42 Nagar Panchayats, with polling scheduled for December 2, 2025. Of these, 40 municipal councils and 17 Nagar Panchayats have reservations for SC/ST and OBCs exceeding the 50% limit. Elections to 29 municipal corporations, 32 Zila Parishads, and 346 Panchayat Samitis are yet to be notified.
