Overview

• The Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission to notify local body elections within four weeks and complete them within four months.
• Elections will follow the OBC reservation framework as it existed before the 2022 Banthia Commission report, pending final decisions on legal challenges.
• The Court emphasized the constitutional requirement for grassroots democracy, citing the prolonged absence of elected representatives in municipal and panchayat bodies.
• Officials raised concerns about logistical difficulties and potential low voter turnout if elections are held during the monsoon season.
• The directive allows the State Election Commission to seek extensions in specific cases, balancing practical constraints and the urgency to restore democratic governance.