The Supreme Court has stayed 27 percent reservation to OBC in Maharashtra local body elections. The apex court in its order has directed the Maharashtra state election commission not to proceed with the election process on 27% reserved seat for OBC candidates in local body election, until further orders. The next hearing of the case will be on 13th December.
The apex court also disapproved the Maharashtra government decision to bring ordinance for OBC reservation without following the triple test which is mandatory.
A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprised of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice CT Ravikumar passed the order on a number of writ petitions.
The petitioners had challenged the Maharashtra Ordinance that provided for 27% reservation to the category of backward classes in the local body elections.
The Supreme Court order implies that the elections for the concerned local bodies in respect of reserved seats for the OBC category shall remain stayed until further orders. However, the rest of election programme can proceed for other reserved seats including general category.
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