Calcutta HC halts West Bengal’s new OBC list notification until July 31

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday has given an interim stay on issuance of the notification for fresh Other Backward Class (OBC) list by West Bengal government in connection with 140 fresh new sub-classification of OBC. The stay order will be valid until July 31.

The division bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Rajasekhar Mantha heard the matter today.

The interim order was passed by High Court’s Division Bench following a petition, seeking intervention of the High Court.


Lawyer Bikram Bandopadhyay, who was one of the petitioner, said, “The survey was done in haste within one month without following SC directives. We requested the Calcutta High Court to quickly do the hearing as the survey did not follow the Supreme Court guidelines. After two-day long hearing, the court has granted interim stay on notification.”
“Sub-classification related notification has been stayed. The stay order will be still July 31. We had asked to prepone the hearing. Justice Raja Sekhar Mantha questioned about new sub-classification,” the advocate added.

A fresh survey was started by the state government on OBC classification. On March 18, the state government had informed the apex court to complete the process of the fresh survey within the next three months. In May 2024, the Calcutta High Court had rejected all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal since 2010.

The fresh OBC list reportedly included 140 sub-sections of OBC, with 80 minority and 60 non-Muslims, as pointed out by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the assembly.

The stay order will be valid until July 31.

Meanwhile, BJP leadership in Bengal has welcomed the court’s order. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari welcoming the verdict, “This is a victory of the judiciary against an arrogant state government. The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government’s blatant appeasement politics, as evident from the disproportionate inclusion of almost 90% new Muslim Classes in the OBC list, has been directly affront to the principles of equality and fairness.”

Union MoS for Education and BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar said, “The verdict shows Mamata Banerjee is anti-court and anti Consti. It is like giving reservation in the name of religion is being done. Under the name of OBC-A and B. There is an attempt to give 97% reservation to the Muslims from backdoor.”

"Gratitude to Calcutta High Court for striking down Mamata Banerjee’s attempt to stuff the OBC list with 76 Muslim groups—nearly 90% of new entries. This wasn’t social justice. It was blatant, communal appeasement—a cynical move to hijack reservations for vote-bank politics,” Majumdar said in his X Handle.
“We are not above court. Let us see the verdict. OBC related survey has been done following court order. It is a false campaign.,” Trinamool leader Arup Chakraborty said.

Admission stalemate
With the High Court stay, uncertainty related to the entire admission procedure for colleges looms large.

Ahead of the HC order, State Education Minister Bratya Basu said, “If there is any order comes, we will take emergency actions. Our work will be done and we will act accordingly.”