File picture of West Bengal Leader of Opposition BJP Bengal President Suvendu Adhikari
| Photo Credit: ANI

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday (May 22, 2025) targeted the West Bengal government over the issue of OBC (Other Backward Classes) reservation, citing an order by the Calcutta High Court where the court stated that only those included in category before 2010 will receive the benefit.

In May 2024, the Calcutta High Court cancelled all Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates issued in West Bengal since 2010. 

Mr. Adhikari cited a recent order of Justice Kaushik Chanda of the Calcutta High Court, where he pointed out that the caste of the candidate is included in the OBC list. Introduced by the Backward Class Department of the State prior to 2010, only they shall receive the benefit of OBC reservation.

The West Bengal government has approached the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court order and the matter is pending before the apex court.

“The State Government getting under the scanner is now a routine affair. Today, the Hon’ble Justice Kausik Chanda has directed immediate implementation of the OBC reservation order passed by the Hon’ble Division Bench. The plea of the State regarding the issue pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has been thwarted stating that the State has failed to obtain any stay on the Hon’ble Division Bench order,” the BJP leader said in a social media post.

Since OBC reservation affects lakhs of candidates and students seeking admissions in academic institutions there has been lot of confusion. Legal experts point that since the West Bengal government has not obtained any stay against the Calcutta High Court order, the admissions will be carried out on the basis of the situation prevailing before 2010.

While striking down the OBC list of the West Bengal government in 2024, the Calcutta High Court highlighted a complete lack of legislative policy within the 2012 scheme governing the State’s authority to classify any class as OBC. The court ordered the State to establish a clear legislative policy before delegating such authority.