The Supreme Court has directed the Maharashtra government not to exceed 50 percent reservations in local body elections. The court warned that elections could be stopped if reservation limits are violated.
The judgment questioned the legality of increasing the OBC reservation quota to 27 percent, as recommended by the JK Bantia Commission. The court clarified that elections must follow the pre-2022 reservation limits.
In Telangana, 42 percent reservations are provided for BCs, raising concerns about exceeding the Supreme Court’s 50 percent ceiling. Legal challenges are already pending in the state high court.
The Supreme Court’s order has sparked debate ahead of Maharashtra’s local body elections scheduled by January. The Election Commission had earlier been instructed to conduct elections without breaching the 50 percent limit. Authorities must now ensure compliance before polling begins.
