The Suvendu Adhikari-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in West Bengal on Tuesday revised the state's Other Backward Classes reservation list, reducing the quota from 17 percent to 7 percent, in compliance with a Calcutta High Court order. The move also regularized 66 communities that were included on the state's OBC reservation list before 2010.
Revised OBC List Details
The updated list now includes several traditional and social communities, such as Kapali, Kurmi, Nai (Napit), Tanti, Dhanuk, Kasai, Khandait, Turha, Paharia Muslim, Devanga, and Hajjam (Muslim). This revision came days after the new government scrapped the existing state OBC list. According to a notification from the backward classes welfare department, these communities will now be eligible for 7 percent reservation in government services and posts. The policy will also apply to college admissions, which are currently underway.
Background of the Controversy
The previous Mamata Banerjee government had introduced a category-wise OBC reservation structure, allocating 10 percent for Category A (more backward classes) and 7 percent for Category B (backward classes). Under this system, over 80 communities and sub-categories received 10 percent reservation under OBC Category A. This was challenged in the Calcutta High Court, with questions raised about the criteria used for listing these communities.
Last year, college admissions were delayed after the state's notification mandating a 17 percent OBC quota in admissions and hirings was stayed by the Calcutta High Court. While the Supreme Court later lifted the stay, a single bench of the High Court, in a JEE matter on August 7, ruled that the old OBC quota formula of 7 percent, as was in force in 2010, would apply for admissions. The state moved the Supreme Court again and, after obtaining relief, initiated admissions based on the 17 percent OBC quota.
High Court Ruling and Current Implementation
The Calcutta High Court struck down several classes named under the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012. Tuesday's notification was issued in compliance with the High Court's May 2024 order, which declared the OBC status of several communities in Bengal illegal.
Education department officials confirmed that the OBC quota was revised to 7 percent in the centralized admission portal, which began functioning on Tuesday. A department official stated, "We were awaiting an instruction to avoid any confusion." Presidency University registrar Debajyoti Konar said, "We are following the state order on the reservation policy in all matters of establishment and admission." Presidency's undergraduate portal opened on Tuesday, while Jadavpur University's portal was scheduled to open on Wednesday. JU registrar Selim Box Mandal commented, "We will admit students following the state's 7 percent OBC reservation order."
