West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed strong opposition to the Calcutta High Court’s order scrapping OBC certificates issued after 2010. Addressing a poll rally at Panihati under the Dumdum Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee asserted that OBC reservations would continue in the state, and she vowed to challenge the decision in higher courts if necessary.
Banerjee emphasised her respect for the judiciary but criticized the judgment, stating, “Not everyone in the courts are bad. I respect the judiciary. But the person who has given this order… I don’t accept his judgment. I will not accept it. OBC reservation will continue. I will move higher courts if needed…They don’t know me. I am not someone who will bow to their whims”
The CM stated that the OBC reservations were implemented in accordance with the law and, even earlier, petitions were filed against it but the appellants lost their cases. “We implemented OBC reservation as per the law. We conducted surveys. Upen Biswas was the chairman of the committee that submitted multiple reports. Even back then, there were court cases on the matter but the appellants lost those cases,” she said.
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday cancelled all OBC 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 on the OBC list before 2010 will remain. However, all OBC nominations after 2010 were cancelled.
An estimated 5 lakh OBC certificates are set to be cancelled in light of the order. Polling in West Bengal is being held in seven phases of Lok Sabha polls. Polling has already been done in five phases and the voting for the remaining two phases will be held on May 25 and June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4. In the sixth phase, polling will be held on May 25 in Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur.
