India, Sept. 16 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) for failing to comply with its earlier orders and directed that all local body elections in the state, pending since 2022, must be completed by January 31, 2026, without further delay.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi expressed displeasure over repeated extensions and excuses by the SEC, which cited reasons such as delimitation, EVM shortages, and school premises being unavailable during board exams. "Elections of all local bodies, including Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and municipalities, shall be conducted by January 31, 2026. No further extension shall be granted," the bench ruled.

The court directed that t...