Supreme Court Stay: West Bengal's OBC Policy Triumphs

West Bengal's revised OBC list gets a temporary green light after the Supreme Court stayed Calcutta High Court's decision. Education Minister Bratya Basu celebrated the ruling as a moral win for CM Mamata Banerjee's OBC policy. The state is poised for immediate action.

The Supreme Court temporarily stayed an earlier Calcutta High Court order that had halted the implementation of a revised Other Backward Classes (OBC) list in West Bengal. The decision was hailed by state's education minister Bratya Basu as a moral victory, aligning with the policy of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Supreme Court's bench, led by Chief Justice B R Gavai, commented that the high court's order seemed erroneous, emphasizing that reservation policies fall under the purview of the executive branch. The state government has communicated its preparedness to act promptly following the court's decision.

Sonali Chakraborty Banerjee, WBJEE Board Chairperson, noted that the board was ready to release results but awaited the Higher Education department's direction due to the ongoing sub-judice status. Previously, on June 17, the High Court had placed an interim stay on the OBC reservation notifications impacting 140 subsections.

(With inputs from agencies.)