Supreme Court clears pending Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti polls in Maharashtra, subject to final ruling

Mumbai, Oct 29: Political parties and aspiring candidates waiting for Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections have received major relief. The final decision on OBC reservation is still pending, but the Supreme Court has allowed the remaining local self-government elections to be held under an interim arrangement.

The permission is not unconditional. The process of these elections and their validity will remain subject to the final outcome of the case. In other words, even if the polls are held, their process and validity will depend on the final verdict. All eyes are now on what stand the State Election Commission takes next.

The Supreme Court was hearing a matter concerning local self-government elections in the state, when the issue of pending elections came up. Senior advocate Indira Jaising told the court that elections have already been held in 12 Zilla Parishads, but those in the remaining 20 Zilla Parishads and 211 Panchayat Samitis are still to be held.

It was argued at the hearing that these elections should not be held up indefinitely until a final decision is taken on the OBC reservation question. The court then allowed the election process to proceed under an interim arrangement.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Surya Kant asked why the democratic process should be stopped. It was also made clear that the court had already directed that elections be held under an interim arrangement. The process can therefore move ahead for those local bodies where elections have not yet been held, but the condition of remaining subject to the final verdict will continue.

The key issue in the whole matter is OBC reservation in local self-government bodies. Questions about the 50 per cent ceiling on reservation and the quota to be given to the OBC community are still awaiting a final decision. Although permission to hold the elections has been granted, the legal dispute over reservation has not ended. With the way cleared for the polls, the next hearing on reservation will also be significant.

According to available information, there is interest in the next stage of Zilla Parishad elections in many districts of Konkan, North Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha. The districts mentioned are Beed, Jalna, Nanded, Hingoli, Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahilyanagar, Dhule, Nandurbar, Palghar, Thane, Amravati, Akola, Washim, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur.