50% quota cap can’t be breached: Supreme Court to Maharashtra on OBC reservation in local body polls

The article discusses the Supreme Court’s strong reiteration that the 50% reservation ceiling, as established in Indra Sawhney, cannot be crossed even in local body elections unless exceptional circumstances are proven with measurable data. Maharashtra attempted to justify exceeding the cap to accommodate OBC reservations, but the Court held that the required “triple test”—a dedicated commission to identify backwardness, quantifiable data, and proportional representation—had not been satisfied. The bench emphasized that deviation from constitutional norms cannot be justified merely by political or social pressure. It also warned that violating the cap would jeopardize ongoing and future elections. The article reflects the Court’s continued insistence on balancing affirmative action with constitutional equality mandates and preventing arbitrary expansion of quotas by State governments.