The Supreme Court has strongly criticized the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) for its "inaction and incompetence" in conducting local body elections. The elections, which have been delayed since 2022 due to disputes over Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations and related litigation, have faced repeated postponements, drawing the ire of the apex court.

In a hearing on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi expressed its displeasure with the SEC's non-compliance with earlier directives to hold the elections. The court has now set a final deadline of January 31, 2026, for the completion of all pending local body elections in Maharashtra, including those for Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and municipalities. The court explicitly stated that this extension is a "one-time concession," and no further extensions will be granted to the state or the SEC.

The Supreme Court has directed the SEC to complete the ongoing delimitation exercise by October 31, 2025, clarifying that this process should not be used as a reason to further delay the elections. The court has also instructed the SEC to make necessary arrangements for electronic voting machines (EVMs) and file a compliance affidavit by November 30, 2025.

The SEC had cited several reasons for the delays, including the delimitation process, shortage of EVMs, unavailability of school premises due to board exams, and inadequate staff. However, the court dismissed these explanations, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the constitutional mandate of grassroots democracy through periodic elections. The court noted that board exams scheduled for March 2026 cannot justify postponing elections due by January 2026.

To address the SEC's concerns about inadequate staff, the Supreme Court directed the SEC to submit its requirements to the Chief Secretary within two weeks. The Chief Secretary is then required to coordinate with other departments and ensure the necessary deployment of staff within four weeks.

The issue of OBC reservations has been a major point of contention in the delayed local body elections. The Supreme Court has clarified that the elections should be held based on the OBC reservation framework that was in place before the submission of the Banthia Commission report in July 2022. The Banthia Commission had recommended up to 27% reservation for OBCs in local bodies, but its recommendations are currently under challenge before the Supreme Court.

In May 2025, the Supreme Court had directed the SEC to notify the local body elections within four weeks and complete the entire election process within four months, allowing the SEC to seek an extension if needed. However, the SEC failed to meet this deadline, leading to the court's recent criticism and the imposition of the final January 31, 2026, deadline.

The Supreme Court's firm stance underscores the importance of holding timely local body elections to ensure democratic governance at the grassroots level. The court's order serves as a strong message to the Maharashtra State Election Commission to take swift and decisive action to conduct the long-pending elections without further delay.