New Delhi: Thirty seven castes from West Bengal, included in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by Congress-led UPA government before 2014 parliamentary elections, are now under the scanner of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) and some may be delisted.
The move follows the order of Calcutta high court invalidating all OBC certificates issued by West Bengal government after 2010. Speaking to ET, NCBC chairman Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said, “We are scrutinising the Central List of OBCs to check if there are certain castes common in Central and State list. If their status is impacted by high court order, we will recommend they be taken off the Central List as well.” Ahir said West Bengal had recommended inclusion of 46 castes in Central OBC list in 2011. Of these 46, proposals of nine castes were rejected. Ahir said, “In February 2014, right before the parliamentary elections, the government notified inclusion of 37 castes, including 35 belonging to Muslim community. Since these 37 castes are the only ones included from Bengal, we will examine the list now.” If certain castes are found common and their OBC certificates have been invalidated, Ahir said the Commission will recommend to ministry of social justice and empowerment to remove them from the Central list.
NCBC has been red-flagging anomalies in implementation of reservation policy in West Bengal. After a field visit in February 2023, NCBC had found Rohingyas and Bangladeshi immigrants had got OBC certificates and taken reservation benefits. It has also held off recommending inclusion of 87 castes, including 80 belonging to Muslim community, in the Central OBC List. In 2023, it sought additional data from the state government. NCBC’s observations have been included in Calcutta high court order. Ahir said, “The number of castes of Muslim communities being added by West Bengal is mind boggling. I have observed even during hearings whether it is Bengal or Bangladesh. This practice may lead to real deserving castes not being included.”
As per government guidelines, while the states have jurisdiction over inclusion of castes in the State List, it has to send its recommendations to the Centre for castes to be included in the Central List of OBCs.
