Quick Summary: The Maharashtra State Election Commission postponed local elections just 72 hours before voting, causing controversy and leading to legal challenges. The High Court looked into these issues, focusing on fairness and planning ahead.
On December 2, 2025, Judges Hiten S. Venegavkar and Smt. Vibha Kankanwadi of the Bombay High Court in Aurangabad dealt with a rush of requests. These requests challenged the Maharashtra State Election Commission's decision to delay local elections. The elections were put off because decisions on nomination appeals weren't made in time, affecting candidates' rights to withdraw.
"The Commission postponed elections at the very end of the election process... an unfair act," argued Amol Maruti Naikwade, the person who filed the complaint.
Amol Maruti Naikwade argued that the Commission was aware of the deadlines but still delayed the elections at the last minute. He claimed this move was neither fair nor justified by the constitution. The original election plan was published on November 4, 2025, and included two possibilities: appeals filed and not filed. The deadline to withdraw was set for November 25, 2025.
The Election Commission, represented by lawyer Mr. Sachindra Shetye, defended the postponement by referring to its authority under the constitution. They argued the decision was to make sure things were fair, allowing candidates time to withdraw if their appeals were successful.
"The Commission's power, although to be used carefully, must be flexible enough to ensure fairness," Mr. Shetye stated.
The court criticized the Commission for not planning ahead. They noted that the Commission should have expected delays in appeal decisions and planned accordingly. The court emphasized the importance of a fair election process, free from unfair influence.
The court decided not to cancel the postponement orders but criticized the Commission's last-minute actions. They directed:
Unified Result Declaration: Results for all elections, both original and postponed, should be announced together on or after December 21, 2025.
No Exit Polls: Exit polls are not to be shared until voting ends on December 20, 2025.
Future Guidelines: The Commission must create rules to avoid such disruptions in the future, ensuring timely and fair elections.
The court allowed the election postponement to stand but criticized the timing and lack of planning by the Commission. They issued directives to prevent similar issues in the future and to uphold fair election practices.
