Today, On 22nd May, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed strong opposition to the Calcutta High Court’s decision to nullify OBC certificates issued after 2010. She insists her government will not accept this ruling. The decision has significant implications for those who received their certificates during this period.
North 24 Parganas ( West Bengal): The Calcutta High Court, On Wednesday, invalidated all Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates issued in West Bengal since 2010. The Court specified that individuals who secured employment under the act’s provisions and were already in service due to such reservation would not be impacted by the ruling.
Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Rajasekhar Mantha, comprising a division bench, rendered the judgment in response to a petition contesting the process of OBC certificate issuance in the state.
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Following the Calcutta High Court‘s decision to revoke OBC certificates distributed in West Bengal post-2010, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ferociously declared her refusal to abide by the ruling, asserting that “OBC reservation persists and will persist indefinitely.”
Speaking at a campaign rally in Khardah within the Dumdum Lok Sabha constituency, she launched a scathing critique against the BJP while also addressing the recent court verdict.
She Stated,
“I recently overheard a well-known judge issuing a ruling. The Prime Minister’s assertion that minorities might encroach upon Tapasheeli reservations prompts scepticism. It’s inconceivable for minorities to infringe upon Tapasheeli or tribal reservations. However, certain political factions, like the BJP, may manipulate systems to their advantage. While an order may have been obtained through questionable means, I adamantly reject the notion. Those responsible for the ruling should refrain from imposing their views upon us. The OBC reservation stands, unyielding now and forever.”
The leader of the Trinamool Congress also mentioned the recent ruling by the Calcutta High Court, which nullified the appointments of more than 25,700 teachers and support staff recruited through the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in government schools. She claimed that these educators lost their positions “because of the BJP.”
She stated,
“I expressed my strong objection when 26,000 individuals lost their employment due to the BJP,”
She continued,
“Likewise, I affirm today, I refuse to accept this stance, The decision regarding OBC reservation was approved in both the cabinet and assembly, and it has been validated by the court. They are playing political games with these matters ahead of the elections,”
The Calcutta High Court, On Wednesday, cancelled all OBC (Other Backward Classes) certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010. The court has directed the West Bengal Backward Classes Commission to prepare a new list of OBCs in accordance with the 1993 Act.
Those who, in the OBC list before 2010 will remain, but the OBC nominations made after 2010 have been cancelled.
The court’s decision affects approximately 5 lakh OBC certificates. However, those who have already secured jobs under the OBC quota or are in the process of doing so will not be excluded from the quota, and their employment status will remain unaffected.
The Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal held in seven phases. Voting has already been completed in five phases, and the remaining two phases will be held on May 25 and June 1. The final vote counting will take place on June 4.