India, Dec. 1 -- Emphasising that there cannot be "any further impediment" in the conduct of local body polls in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea questioning the validity of the delimitation exercise for zilla parishads, panchayat samitis and other local bodies in the state, making it clear that it will not permit litigation aimed at stalling the electoral process.

"We are not going to entertain any plea that could delay the polls. All these petitions seem to be a ploy to delay the polls. The elections have to happen by January 31, as we directed earlier. There cannot be any further impediment in the conduct of polls," said a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.

The bench no...