The Government of Maharashtra, on December 26, 2025, notified the Maharashtra Village Panchayats and the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Act, 2025, to amend the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act and the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961.
The following has been stated: -
•The amendments allow candidates who have applied for caste certificate verification before filing nominations, but have not yet received validity certificates, to contest elections.
•Such candidates must submit proof of application to the Scrutiny Committee along with an undertaking to produce the Validity Certificate within six months of being declared elected.
•These provisions apply to Village Panchayats, Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and related offices under the respective Maharashtra Acts.
•Failure to submit the Validity Certificate within six months results in retrospective termination of the election and disqualification from the concerned post.
The Act is deemed to have come into force on November 03, 2025.
The detailed notification is given in the document below.
[Notification No.: RNI Number: MAHENG/2009/35528]
