Bengal Government seeks three-month extension for OBC survey, Supreme Court grants relief

The West Bengal government has requested a three-month extension from the Supreme Court to complete a new survey determining eligibility for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list. This request follows the recent order by the Calcutta High Court, which mandated the state to verify the legitimacy of the OBC certificates issued in the past. The state informed the Supreme Court that a fresh survey had already been initiated in compliance with the High Court’s direction.

On Tuesday, Kapil Sibal, representing the state government, presented the petition to the Supreme Court, asking for a delay in the hearing of the OBC case for three months. In response, the court granted the requested extension. Justice B.R. Gavai, while hearing the petition, remarked that the extension would provide some relief in this significant case. The Supreme Court also set the next hearing for after July, allowing the state sufficient time to complete the ongoing survey.

The case arose from concerns raised in the Calcutta High Court, where it was alleged that the OBC certification system had not been followed correctly in the state. In May, the High Court invalidated all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010, affecting nearly 1.2 million certificates. This decision prompted the state government to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court, seeking to address the issue and validate the certificates.

As part of the ongoing legal battle, the Department of Backward Classes Welfare also opposed the High Court’s verdict, citing its potential to impact numerous beneficiaries. The state’s request for a new survey aims to rectify the discrepancies and determine the eligibility of individuals for OBC status. The outcome of the survey will play a crucial role in deciding the future of the OBC certification process in West Bengal.