Supreme Court paves the way for conducting UP Urban Local Body polls with OBC quota

On 27 March 2023, the Supreme Court of India paved the way for holding urban local body polls in Uttar Pradesh (U.P). The top Court allowed the SEC (State Election Commission) to issue a notification for the same in two days with an Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota report of the Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Commission.  The matter was heard by a three-judge bench headed by the Chief justice of India DY Chandrachud and two other justices, Justice JB Pardiwala, and PS Narasimha. The bench stated that “This court, in order dated January 4, 2023, noted that in view of the decisions of this court, the government of Uttar Pradesh issued a notification for setting up the Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Commission in December 2022. Though the tenure of the commission was six months, it was to complete its task by March 31, 2023.” Also, the top Court added, “The solicitor general informs that the report has been submitted on March 9, 2023 to the cabinet. The process of notifying the local body elections is going on and will be done in two days. The plea is disposed of. The direction in this order is not to be used as precedent.”

Earlier in an order passed by the Supreme Court on January 4, Allahabad High Court’s order to hold the urban local body polls without OBCs reservation stayed. In the recent order, the Supreme Court said the state government could appoint administrators to manage local bodies after elected representatives' terms ended, but they wouldn't have the power to make major policy decisions.

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