Maharashtra Local Body Polls: SC Sets Jan 31, 2026 Deadline, Pulls Up State Election Commission For Delay

The Supreme Court ordered Maharashtra to hold local body elections by January 31, 2026. Expressing displeasure at the State Election Commission's delay despite a prior order, the court granted this final extension.

File Photo of Supreme Court

Source : ANI

Pulling up the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) for failing to comply with earlier orders, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that civic polls across the state — pending since 2022 — must be completed by 31 January 2026 without any further delay. A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi came down strongly on the poll panel, making it clear that excuses would no longer be entertained.

‘No Further Extension Shall Be Granted’: SC

“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. However, as a one-time concession, we deem apt to issue following directions,” the bench said, as per news agency PTI.

The justices added: “Elections of all local bodies, including Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and all municipalities shall be conducted by January 31, 2026. No further extension shall be granted to the state and the State Election Commission. In case any other logistic assistance required, application can be filed promptly before October 31, 2025. No prayer will be entertained thereafter.”

The court underlined that the ongoing delimitation exercise must be wrapped up by 31 October 2025, cautioning that it “shall not be ground to defer elections.”

SEC Cites Exams, Shortage of EVMs

The SEC, seeking an extension, pointed to factors including the unavailability of school premises during board examinations and a shortfall in electronic voting machines (EVMs), as per PTI. The bench, however, rejected these grounds, observing that exams would only be held in March 2026.

“The Chief Secretary, Maharashtra to immediately deploy requisite staff to perform duties of returning officers and other assisting staff as may be required,” the court directed. It asked the poll panel to share details of staff requirements within two weeks, and ordered that the Chief Secretary, in consultation with other departments, provide the staff within four weeks.

On the issue of voting machines, the bench said: “As regard to non-availability of requisite EVMs, we direct the SEC to make necessary arrangements and file a compliance affidavit regarding availability of EVMs by November 30, 2025.”

SC Bench Questions Delay Since 2022

During the hearing, Justice Kant reminded the authorities of the earlier interim order of May this year, which had set a September deadline. “Have the elections been conducted? Order was passed in May; elections were to be conducted in four months,” he asked.

The counsel for Maharashtra and the SEC argued that the delimitation exercise was still underway, but the bench retorted: “Your inaction speaks of incompetence. These issues were known to you even when we passed the first order.”

The SEC’s lawyer acknowledged that while 65,000 EVMs were available, another 50,000 had been ordered. Petitioners opposing the extension accused the SEC of “redoing the entire process” instead of issuing timely notifications, pointing to excuses ranging from staff shortages to festivals.

The bench also recorded that the civic polls had remained suspended since 2022, primarily because of disputes surrounding Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations in local bodies.