Prayagraj, Oct. 15 -- The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government and the State Election Commission to complete gram panchayat elections within three months, making it clear that the polls will be held under the existing reservation framework, including a 27% quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

A division bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prasad ruled that elections cannot be postponed pending the report of the state's dedicated commission on OBC reservation. OBC-reserved seats cannot be treated as general seats merely because the inquiry is incomplete.

Reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and women will continue as prescribed by law, subject to the 50% ceiling on total ...