Calcutta High Court Halts New OBC Notification, Sparks Political Controversy
In a important setback for the West Bengal government, the Calcutta High court has issued an interim stay on a new notification that sought to include 140 communities in the Othre Backward Classes (OBC) list. The court’s decision has reignited discussions around the legal framework governing OBC classifications, emphasizing the need for legislative amendments before any new communities can be recognized. This ruling has raised questions about the government’s adherence to judicial directives and the implications for social equity in the state.
The division bench, comprising Justices Rajasekhar Mantha and Tapobrata Chakraborty, expressed frustration over the government’s failure to comply with a previous directive that mandated legislative action before adding new communities to the OBC list. The court highlighted that the inclusion of these 140 communities was not only premature but also contradicted the established legal processes. The ongoing debate has revealed deep-seated tensions within the state’s political landscape, as stakeholders grapple with the complexities of caste-based classifications and their socio-political ramifications.The court’s insistence on adhering to the 2012 amendment law, rather then reverting to the 1993 OBC Act, underscores the need for a more structured approach to social justice in West bengal.
