What is the matter?
For some time, the municipal elections in Maharashtra were having a stay, because there was a legal dispute about the new division composition and OBC reservation. Some petitioners challenged the new ward composition in the court.
What did the court say?
The bench of the Supreme Court, which included Justice Suryakant, clearly stated that 27 percent OBC reservation will be applicable in all municipal elections. The court also said that elections will be conducted according to the new division composition and all the petitions challenging the new ward composition have been dismissed.
What will happen next?
After the Supreme Court’s decision, now the Maharashtra government will have to issue notification within four weeks through the Election Commission and complete the election process within four months. This decision will be applicable for the entire Maharashtra including 227 wards of Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
On the order of the Supreme Court, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the way has been cleared for the other Backward Classes (OBC) with 27 percent reservation. Speaking to reporters, Devendra Fadnavis said, ‘The Supreme Court had already directed on 6 May that the local body elections should be held according to the OBC reservation of 2017. This instruction was confirmed again on Monday. Now the entire OBC reservation will be applicable in the upcoming local body elections. Devendra Fadnavis further said that the ward delimitation law made in 2022 has been canceled.