The West Bengal government is seeking more time to respond to petitions following the Calcutta High Court’s decision to revoke OBC status from several castes, primarily Muslim groups. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal has requested additional time to review the extensive documents presented in the case. The Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, has agreed to reschedule the hearing for the following week.
The state government urgently sought a stay on the high court verdict, stating that scholarships and NEET admissions could be impacted. The Supreme Court had previously requested data on the social and economic backwardness of the newly included castes in the OBC list.
The high court invalidated OBC status for multiple castes due to religious bias, expressing concern over the classification of Muslims for political gain. The court also overturned 37 classes from the OBC list under The West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012. The ruling will have prospective effects on public sector jobs and state-run educational institutions.
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