Calcutta OBC List Stayed: Supreme Court Action in West Bengal
Supreme Court Stays Calcutta High Court Order on New OBC List, Cites Prima Facie error
New Delhi: In a meaningful advancement concerning the classification of Other Backward Classes (OBC) in West Bengal, the Supreme Court has stayed an order passed by the Calcutta High Court that had put a halt to the readiness of a new OBC list by the state government. The apex court, while issuing notice, expressed that the High Court’s order appeared “prima facie erroneous.”
Supreme Court’s Intervention and Suggestion
The Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Gavai, suggested a path forward for the High Court to expedite the matters. “If you are willing, we will direct the HC to hear the matter in stipulated timeline, till then status quo will maintain.We will ask the Chief Justice to constitute another bench to hear,” CJI Gavai proposed. However, the respondents indicated their preference to present their arguments directly before the Supreme Court.
Ultimately, the bench decided to stay the High Court’s order. The CJI orally remarked that the High Court’s decision was “prima facie erroneous.” He further elaborated, “The commission has followed some methodology. It might potentially be correct or not correct,that will be decided by the High Court finally.”
The Supreme Court’s order stated,”Issue notice. In the meantime, there shall be a stay to the impugned order.”
Background of the Dispute
the current challenge stems from an order passed by the Calcutta High Court on June 17, which had stayed the preparation of the new OBC list by the West bengal government. This move by the state followed a crucial High Court judgment in May 2024, where the Calcutta High Court had quashed the inclusion of as many as 77 communities in the OBC list.
While the state had initially challenged this judgment in the Supreme Court,they later informed the apex court that the State commission would undertake a fresh exercise to identify OBCs.
The High Court,in its order staying the new list,had prima facie observed that the state government seemed to be attempting to reintroduce the same OBC classes that were previously struck down by the court.
Case: THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL Vs PURABI DAS | SLP(C) No. 17422/2025 and connected cases