The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) finds itself in a legal quandary as its finalized reservation plan for upcoming civic polls breaches the Supreme Court-mandated 50% ceiling. The reservation matrix stands at 54.30%, a figure that has sparked scrutiny and debate over its adherence to constitutional norms.
Commissioner Defends Due Process Amid Scrutiny
Addressing the issue at a press conference on Tuesday, Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari stated that the ward reservations were finalized strictly as per due procedure and were approved by the State Election Commission (SEC). He maintained that the NMC followed the reservation matrix communicated by the state authorities and issued the final notification only after receiving clearance from the SEC.
Officials explained that the cumulative figure exceeded the 50% mark due to the combined effect of reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and the horizontal reservation for women. This overlapping of quotas, particularly for women across all categories, has previously led to reservation levels crossing the 50% threshold in earlier Maharashtra civic elections.
Breakdown of Reservations and Legal Implications
For the 151 prabhags (electoral wards), the current reservations stand as follows: General (69), OBC (40), SC (30), and ST (12). An equal gender split is mandated across all these categories. Notably, the OBC seats have been reduced by one compared to the 2017 polls.
The reservation in urban local bodies remains under intense judicial scrutiny. Supreme Court rulings have consistently capped total reservation at 50%, except in exceptional circumstances backed by robust empirical data. Legal experts are now warning of potential repercussions. A Supreme Court verdict expected on January 21 could have significant consequences. If the ruling goes against exceeding the 50% cap, the OBC reservation could face further cuts, as the quotas for SC and ST are fixed according to their population ratios and are less likely to be altered.
What Lies Ahead for Nagpur's Civic Polls?
The situation places the upcoming civic elections in Nagpur on uncertain ground. While the municipal administration insists on having followed the prescribed protocol, the breach of the judicial ceiling opens the door for legal challenges. The final decision now hinges on the upcoming Supreme Court verdict, which will determine the validity of the current reservation structure and potentially force a last-minute reconfiguration of the electoral map, primarily impacting the OBC quota.
This development highlights the ongoing tension between political mandates for inclusive representation and the constitutional limits set by the judiciary, a debate that is central to the functioning of India's democratic institutions at the local level.
