Date: 2026-02-24Category: Not ApplicableState: MaharashtraCountry: India
Part V, Ext. No. 2, L. A. BILL No. II OF 2026
A Bill further to the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961. Tuesday, 24th February 2026.
**Executive Summary**
This document presents L. A. Bill No. II of 2026, intended to further amend the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961. It was introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on February 24th, 2026. The bill replaces the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which was promulgated on December 26th, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Act Title and Commencement:**
* The Act is titled the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Act, 2026.
* It is deemed to have come into force on December 26th, 2025.
* **Amendment to Section 14 of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961:**
* Sub-section (2) of Section 14 is substituted.
* The State Government will make rules for the conduct of elections. Elections must be conducted according to these rules.
* The decision of a Returning Officer regarding acceptance or rejection of nomination papers is final and cannot be challenged in any court.
* **Repeal and Saving of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025:**
* The Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, is repealed.
* Actions taken under the Ordinance are considered valid under the amended Act.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Government**
* **Impact:** The State Government is now responsible for establishing rules for the conduct of Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis elections, ensuring adherence to these rules.
* **Action Required:** Formulate and implement election rules, ensuring compliance with the amended Act.
**Stakeholder: District Courts**
* **Impact:** District Courts will no longer handle appeals related to the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers by the Returning Officer, as these decisions are now final.
* **Action Required:** Discontinue accepting or processing appeals related to nomination paper decisions.
**Stakeholder: State Election Commission**
* **Impact:** The State Election Commission's authority is reinforced as the final decision-maker in electoral matters.
* **Action Required:** Ensure that elections are conducted in a timely and fair manner without court interference.
**Stakeholder: Returning Officers**
* **Impact:** The authority of the Returning Officer is strengthened, as their decisions on nomination papers are final and not subject to court appeals.
* **Action Required:** Make unbiased decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of the Nomination papers.
**Stakeholder: Election Candidates and Voters**
* **Impact:** Candidates and voters will be subject to the new rules and election processes defined by the State Government.
* **Action Required:** Understand the election rules and the implications of the Returning Officer's final decision on nomination papers.
Key Entities Referenced
Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961: The primary act being amended by this bill.
Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Act, 2026: The name of the act introduced as L. A. BILL No. II OF 2026.
Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025: Ordinance that this bill seeks to replace.
State Election Commission: The commission that raised concerns leading to this amendment
Maharashtra Legislature: The legislative body enacting the law; bill introduced in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
RNI No. MAHBIL /2009/40123
महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र
असाधााराण भााग पाच–अ
वर्षष १२, अंक १(२)] मंगळवारा, फेेब्रुुवाराी २४, २०२६/फेाल्गुन ५, शाके १९४७ [पष्ृठे े३, किंकमं त : रुपये े३६.००
असाधााराण क्रमांक २
प्रााकिंधाकृत प्राकाशान
महाारााष्ट्र किंवधाानसभाेत व महाारााष्ट्र किंवधाानपरिरार्षदेेत सादेरा केलेेलेी किंवधाेयेके (इंंग्रजी अनुवादे).
MAHARASHTRA LEGISLATURE SECRETARIAT
The following Bill was introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the
24th February, 2026 is published under Rule 117 of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
Rules :—
L. A. BILL No. II OF 2026.
A BILL
further to amend the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and
Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961.
WHEREAS both houses of the State Legislature were not in session ;
AND WHEREAS the Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied
that circumstances existed which rendered it necessary for him to take
Mah. V immediate action further to amend the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and
of
Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961, for the purposes hereinafter appearing ; and,
1962.
Mah. therefore, promulgated the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Pancahyat Samitis
Ord. (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 on the 26th December 2025 ;
XIV of
2025.
भााग पााच-अ—२-१2 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच–अ, फेेब्रुुवाराी २४, २०२६/फेाल्गुन ५, शाके १९४७
AND WHEREAS it is expedient to replace the said Ordinance by an Act
of the State Legislature ; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-seventh Year of
the Republic of India as follows :–
Short title and 1. (1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and
commencement. Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Act, 2026.
(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 26th December 2025.
Amendment 2. In section 14 of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat
of section 14 Samitis Act, 1961, (hereinafter referred to as “the principal Act”), for sub-section
of Mah. V of
(2), the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely :–
1962.
“(2) The State Government shall make rules for the conduct of such
elections and the election shall be conducted in accordance with those rules.
(3) The decision of a Returning Officer accepting or rejecting the
nomination papers shall be final and it shall not be called in question in
any Court.”.
Repeal of 3. (1) The Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Mah.
Mah. Ord. Ord.
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, is hereby repealed.
XIV of 2025 XIV of
and saving. (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken 2025.
(including any notification, rules or order issued) under the corresponding
provisions of the principal Act, as amended by the said Ordinance, shall be
deemed to have been done, taken or, as the case may be, issued under the
corresponding provisions of the principal Act, as amended by this Act.महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच–अ, फेेब्रुुवाराी २४, २०२६/फेाल्गुन ५, शाके १९४७ 3
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
Article 243K of the Constitution of India and section 9A of the Maharashtra
Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961 (Mah. V of 1962) provides
that, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral
rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Zilla Parishads and Panchayat
Samitis shall be vested in the State Election Commission.
2. Section 14(2) of the said Act provides that, the State Government shall
make rules for the conduct of such elections including for an appeal to the District
Court against the decision of Returning Officer, accepting or rejecting nomination
papers. Accordingly, rule 20 of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads (Electoral
Divisions and Conduct of Election) Rules, 1962 and rule 19A of the Maharashtra
Panchayat Samitis (Electoral Colleges and Conduct of Election) Rules, 1962
provided for filing of an appeal before the District Court against the decision of
the Returning Officer of accepting or rejecting nomination papers and District
Court is required to hear such appeals on day to day basis and dispose off the
same as expeditiously as possible.
3. The State Election Commission had communicated to the State
Government that such appeals remain pending in different District Courts for
different period and it is also not certain when such appeals will be disposed
off. The Commission had also communicated that article 243O of the Constitution
provides for bar to interference by Courts in electoral matters. Therefore, the
Commission has with a view to complete elections in time bound manner
forwarded to the State Government a proposal to make suitable amendments
in abovereferred Rules for deleting the provisions relating to such appeals. It
was, therefore, considered expedient to amend section 14 of the said Act,
suitably.
4. As both Houses of the State Legislature were not in session and the
Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that circumstances existed which
rendered it necessary for him to take immediate action further to amend the
Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961, for the purposes
aforesaid, the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment)
Ordinance, 2025 (Mah. Ord. XIV of 2025), was promulgated by the Governor of
Maharashtra on the 26th December 2025.
5. The Bill is intended to replace the said Ordinance by an Act of the State
Legislature.
Mumbai, JAYKUMAR GORE,
Dated the 17th February, 2026. Minister for Rural Development.
Vidhan Bhavan : JITENDRA BHOLE,
Mumbai, Secretary-1,
Dated : 24th February, 2026. Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR,
RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD,
MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS,
21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.