SC grants Maharashtra local body polls a final two-week extension | What’s causing the delay?

Mumbai: A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joyamalya Bagchi approved the extension after the State Election Commission (SEC), represented by senior advocate Balbir Singh, filed an interlocutory application seeking an additional 10 days beyond the January 31 deadline.

The court granted a two-week extension for completing the electoral process of local body elections in Maharashtra, including zila parishads, panchayat samitis, and municipalities.

During the hearing, the court also addressed a plea regarding quota limits exceeding 50 per cent, noting that elections will proceed but remain subject to the outcome of ongoing petitions. The bench refused to entertain any fresh intervention applications, observing that such filings are often intended to delay elections and will be listed after the polls conclude.

The Supreme Court had previously mandated that local body elections, stalled since 2022 due to disputes over OBC reservations, be completed by January 31, 2026, without further extensions. Earlier interim orders in May 2025 had directed the conclusion of elections within four months. Petitioners opposing the extension argued that the SEC had delayed notification of elections and was redoing the process citing festivals and staff shortages.

The two-week extension provides the SEC additional time to complete the remaining electoral procedures, with the court emphasizing that no further extensions will be granted.
(With PTI inputs)