New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Maharashtra Government and the State Election Commission (SEC) on a petition seeking the cancellation of the 2022 report of the Justice Banthia Commission, which formed the basis for granting Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation in local body elections across the State.
The petition has been filed by the Youth for Equality Foundation, which has challenged the validity of the Banthia Commission’s findings and all subsequent decisions and notifications issued on the basis of its report. The apex court’s intervention has once again brought the politically sensitive issue of OBC reservation in Maharashtra’s local self-government institutions under judicial scrutiny.
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27 Jan 2026
In its plea, the petitioner has argued that the Justice Banthia Commission failed to conduct a genuine assessment of political backwardness, as mandated by previous Supreme Court judgments. It has contended that the Commission’s conclusions were not based on concrete, verifiable and empirical data, but instead relied on assumptions and inadequate methodology.
The petition has urged the Supreme Court to direct the Maharashtra government to constitute a fresh and independent commission to study political backwardness across all local bodies in the state. According to the plea, such a commission must undertake a scientific and data-driven exercise rather than relying on experience-based or estimated assessments.
The key reliefs sought in the petition include:
• Directions to the State Government to appoint a new commission to conduct an empirical study of political backwardness in all local self-government institutions;
• A mandate that the study be based strictly on quantifiable and verifiable data, in line with constitutional requirements and Supreme Court precedents;
• Quashing of the Justice Banthia Commission’s 2022 report and all notifications, decisions and actions taken on the basis of the said report.
The matter has significant political and administrative implications, as the Banthia Commission report was relied upon by the Maharashtra Government to justify OBC reservation in Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and other local bodies. The issue has been contentious ever since earlier Supreme Court rulings struck down OBC reservation in local elections for want of empirical data on political backwardness.
With the Supreme Court now issuing notices to both the State Government and the SEC, the future course of local body elections in Maharashtra, as well as the continuation of OBC reservation, may depend on the outcome of the proceedings. The next hearing is expected to clarify whether the apex court will stay the implementation of the report or issue further directions regarding the constitution of a new commission.
All eyes are now on the Supreme Court’s next order, which could have far-reaching consequences for local governance and electoral politics in Maharashtra.
