Supreme Court Issues Notice on West Bengal's Plea Against OBC Certificate Cancellation

The Supreme Court has issued notices on West Bengal government's plea challenging Calcutta HC's decision to cancel post-2010 OBC certificates. The court has asked West Bengal to file an affidavit outlining the process for determining 77 OBC communities.

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to relevant respondents on a plea by the West Bengal government challenging the Calcutta High Court's decision to cancel all Other Backward Caste certificates issued in the state post-2010. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, requested the West Bengal government file an affidavit detailing the procedure for determining 77 communities as OBCs.

While the top court did not stay the Calcutta High Court's order, it issued a notice on West Bengal's application seeking a stay. The Supreme Court directed the state government to file an affidavit clarifying the survey and study utilized in the classification of these communities. Additionally, the court asked for details of the consultations held with the West Bengal Backward Commission before including the 77 communities in the OBC list.

The Calcutta High Court had nullified all OBC certificates issued after 2010 and instructed the West Bengal Backward Classes Commission to prepare a new list of OBCs aligned with the 1993 Act. Those listed before 2010 remain unaffected, but about 5 lakh OBC certificates issued post-2010 are set to be canceled. Individuals already benefiting from the OBC quota will retain their entitlements.

(With inputs from agencies.)