The Department of Urban Development, Govt. of Maharashtra on June 17, 2026, issued the Maharashtra Municipal Laws Amendment Ordinance, 2026, further to amend the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, and the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965.
The following has been amended:
• It has amended Sections 5B and 37(2A) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act to strengthen the requirement of submitting a caste validity certificate by elected representatives belonging to reserved categories. Under the amendment, if a person elected as a Councillor or Mayor in elections held on or after January 15, 2026, but before the commencement of the Ordinance fails to submit the required Validity Certificate within twelve months from the date of declaration of election results, their election shall be deemed to have been retrospectively terminated, and they shall stand disqualified from holding the office of Councillor or Mayor, as the case may be.
• It has amended Sections 5B and 19(1B) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act to mandate the timely submission of caste validity certificates by elected representatives from reserved categories. The amendment provides that where a person is elected as a Councillor or Mayor in elections held on or after January 15, 2026, but before the commencement of the Ordinance and fails to submit the prescribed Validity Certificate within twelve months from the date of declaration of election results, his or her election shall be deemed to have been retrospectively terminated, and the individual shall stand disqualified from holding the office of Councillor or Mayor, as applicable.
• It has amended Sections 9A and 51-1B of the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act to strengthen compliance with caste validity certificate requirements for elected representatives from reserved categories. The amendment provides that if a person elected as a Councillor or President in elections held on or after December 02, 2025, but before the commencement of the Ordinance fails to submit the prescribed Validity Certificate within twelve months from the date of declaration of election results, the election shall be deemed to have been retrospectively terminated, and the individual shall stand disqualified from holding the office of Councillor or President, as applicable.
[Maharashtra Ordinance no. – IX of 2026]
