Bengal govt regularises 66 classes in OBC list
Kolkata, May 19
The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, on Tuesday issued a notification regularising 66 communities that were included in the state's Other Backward Classes reservation list before 2010.
The move comes days after the new government scrapped the existing state Other Backward Classes list.
According to the notification, the list of 66 categories included in the state Other Backward Classes list before 2010 has been retained.
According to experts, this decision has brought about a major change in the state's reservation policy, which may increase competition within the Other Backward Classes categories.
The Department of Backward Class Welfare has taken this decision regarding the Other Backward Classes reservation system in the state through this notification, issued in compliance with the order of the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court dated May 22, 2024.
It may be noted that the court had struck down the earlier allocation of a reservation of 10 per cent for Category A and 7 per cent for Category B under the Other Backward Classes categories.
Additionally, the total reservation for Other Backward Classes in the state has been reduced to 7 per cent.
The order issued by the Governor clarified that these 66 categories will now be eligible for a 7 per cent reservation in government services and posts.
This list includes many traditional and social communities, including Kapali, Kurmi, Nai (Napit), Tanti, Dhanuk, Kasai, Khandait, Turha, Paharia Muslim, Devanga, and Hajjam (Muslim), among others.
The notification also states that persons who have converted to Christianity from the Scheduled Castes and their descendants have also been included in the list.
The state government is of the view that this decision will ensure social justice and transparency in line with the court's directives.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some transparency after the High Court order. The previous government's arbitrary inclusion of 10% and 7% categories was clearly unconstitutional. This 7% flat rate for OBCs seems reasonable, though I'm curious how the creamy layer will be handled now.
As someone from a Kurmi background in Bengal, this feels like a mixed blessing. On one hand, we are officially recognised, but reducing total OBC reservation from 17% to 7% will make things tougher. Hope the state ensures proper implementation and doesn't leave anyone behind. 😊
I appreciate that the government is following the court order. Including SC converts to Christianity shows respect for religious freedom while maintaining social justice. But 66 communities fighting for just 7% reservation—this will create intense competition. Let's hope merit and need both get their due.
Interesting development. The inclusion of Hajjam (Muslim) and Paharia Muslim communities shows the government is trying to be inclusive of religious minorities within the OBC framework. But reducing overall reservation from 17% to 7% so quickly might cause short-term disruptions in government recruitment. Hope the courts and government continue to refine this.
My family is from the Tanti community, and we were worried after the old list was scrapped. This notification brings relief, but I wish the government had kept the old 17% reservation for these 66 communities. 7% seems too low considering how many traditional communities are listed. Let's see how this plays out in practice.
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