New Delhi, May 6 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra Election Commission to notify local body elections in the State within four weeks.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh also directed that an endeavour shall be made by the state election commission to conclude the elections within four months.

"In our concerned opinion, the constitutional mandate of grassroots democracy through periodical elections of the local bodies ought to be respected and ensured", the bench stated in the order.

However, the Court also granted liberty to the state election commission to seek its permission for an extension, in case they are not able to conclude the elections within the prescribed time.

The top court also no...