The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 16) set January 31, 2026, as the final deadline for conducting all pending local body elections in Maharashtra, issuing a stern warning to the State Election Commission (SEC) and the state government for repeated delays.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed that elections to all Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and municipalities must be completed by the stipulated date, making it clear that no further extension will be granted.
The court also ordered the completion of the delimitation exercise by October 31, 2025, and said the process cannot be used as a ground to postpone elections.
“Elections of all local bodies…shall be conducted by January 2026. No further extension shall be granted to the state or the state election commission,” the bench stated.
The apex court’s directions came after the SEC failed to comply with its May 6 order, which had asked for polls to be notified within four weeks and concluded within four months.
Expressing displeasure, the bench said, “We are constrained to observe that SEC has failed to take prompt action for compliance of this Court’s directions in the prescribed time schedule.”
The SEC had cited reasons such as the non-availability of electronic voting machines (EVMs), lack of school premises due to board examinations, and shortage of staff for the delay.
However, the court dismissed these justifications as administrative laxity, noting that board exams are scheduled only in March 2026 and cannot be an excuse to push polls beyond January.
The judges clarified that if the SEC required any logistical support, it must approach the Court before October 31, 2025, and that no such pleas would be entertained thereafter.
With this order, the apex court has provided a final concession to the SEC and the state government while holding them accountable to ensure that democratic processes at the local body level are not further delayed.
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