OBC Reservation in West Bengal: A recent verdict from the Calcutta High Court has brought a significant change to the OBC reservation policy in West Bengal. In a landmark decision, the bench of Justice Kaushik Chanda has stated that from now on, only the 2009 OBC list will be applicable for reservation in the state. This ruling marks the beginning of a new chapter in the state’s employment and education sectors, sparking widespread discussion across West Bengal.
What Exactly Did the Calcutta High Court State?
According to the judgment by Justice Kaushik Chanda of the Calcutta High Court, only the 2009 rules for OBC reservation will be followed in the state henceforth. As per that rule, 66 communities were under a 7% reservation quota. This means that the more recent OBC list, which included a total of 140 communities under OBC-A and OBC-B categories, will not be in effect for the time being. This verdict will apply to all government jobs and admissions to educational institutions in the state.
The Immediate Impact of the Verdict
The most significant and immediate impact of this verdict has been on the results of the state’s Joint Entrance Examination. The results, which were supposed to be published based on the new OBC list, have been put on hold following the High Court’s order. The court has directed that the results must be published within the next 15 days, following the 2009 list of 66 communities.
This ruling is not limited to the Joint Entrance Examination; it will affect all recruitment processes in the state. For instance, bodies like the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and various college admission processes will now have to adhere to the old rules. The state’s Chief Secretary has been instructed to ensure that the 7% reservation rule is strictly implemented in all relevant processes.
The Path Forward
This case is now pending before the Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled for Monday. The final decision from the Supreme Court will determine the future course of OBC reservation in West Bengal. However, it is undeniable that this Calcutta High Court ruling has introduced a major shift in the state’s reservation policy. The future of many students and job aspirants will be reshaped by this. All eyes are now on the Supreme Court, where the final resolution of this critical issue will take place.
