Calcutta High Court seeks State's response on plea over exclusion of 74 OBC communities

PTI, July 23, 2026, Kolkata : The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday sought detailed affidavits from the West Bengal government and all parties within six weeks in a public interest litigation challenging the alleged exclusion of 74 Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities following a government notification issued on May 18.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Rajasekhar Mantha said the petition raises an important question requiring a detailed response, particularly the contention that a change in government by itself cannot invalidate decisions taken under an earlier policy.

The petitioners argued that the withdrawal of the state's challenge before the Supreme Court to an earlier High Court order has left applicants seeking OBC certificates in uncertainty.

According to them, the reservation available to these communities has effectively reverted from 17 per cent to 7 per cent, affecting those who had applied under the previous framework.

The dispute has its origins in a May 2024 High Court judgment that invalidated OBC certificates issued to communities added after 2010.

Following that verdict, the State carried out a fresh exercise and proposed retaining 17 per cent reservation by recommending inclusion of certain communities.

While the notification was initially stayed by the High Court, the Supreme Court later stayed that order after the State approached it.

The matter will be heard again after affidavits are filed.