Invalid OBC Certificates Barred from Use in SIR Hearings: EC

MP, 2 Jan 2026, KOLKATA: The Election Commission has issued a clear instruction stating that the Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates cancelled by the Calcutta High Court cannot be used during the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bengal.

Based on clarifications from the poll body regarding the validity of OBC certificates during SIR hearings, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal has circulated detailed instructions to all District Electoral Officers (DEOs), enclosing the Calcutta High Court’s order dated December 24, 2025. The CEO has categorically stated that OBC certificates issued between 2010 and 2024 to 113 classes are invalid, as these were cancelled by the High Court. The order emphasized that such certificates have “no locus standi in the eye of law” and therefore cannot be treated as valid documents for the purpose of SIR.

At the same time, the court clarified that OBC certificates issued to 64 classes and 76 classes under state government notifications dated May 27, 2025, June 3, 2025, and June 12, 2025, are valid with effect from the respective dates of those notifications. These certificates may be accepted as one of the 13 documents approved by the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the ongoing SIR 2026 hearings.

The court further ruled that OBC certificates issued to 66 classes prior to 2010 will continue to be accepted as valid documents for the SIR 2026 process.

The matter reached the court after a petitioner filed a complaint about the inaction of authorities, despite submitting representations to the Chief Election Commissioner and the state CEO earlier in December. The petitioner had sought a clarification or directive to prevent officials from accepting invalid OBC certificates that had already been invalidated by judicial orders. Senior counsel representing the petitioner argued that without clear instructions, invalid certificates could be improperly accepted, potentially undermining the integrity of the electoral roll revision exercise.

In disposing of the petition, the court directed the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal to consider the petitioner’s representation and issue a reasoned, speaking order within one week, and to communicate the decision to the petitioner.

In May of the previous year, the High Court had cancelled all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal since 2010 and struck down several provisions of the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012.