OBC certificates in West Bengal 'glaring example of administrative malpractice': CPIM

Agartala (Tripura) [India], May 25 : Leader of the Opposition in Tripura and Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA Jitendra Choudhury has termed the issuance of OBC certificates in West Bengal, "a glaring example of administrative malpractice."
Notably, 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. An estimated 5 lakh OBC certificates are set to be cancelled in light of the order.
The Calcutta High Court order came in the middle of a high-voltage Lok Sabha battle.
Issuance of OBC certificates in West Bengal is a "glaring example of administrative malpractice," senior CPI(M) MLA said on Friday.
"In West Bengal, the way the government is running is totally illegal. Now the OBC certificate case has come into light. The West Bengal government is running illegally and it's the outcome of the same thing. In Tripura everyone knows about them. In 2023 TMC had tried to capture their hold in Tripura but the people of Tripura knew their nature and completely denied them. Trinamool Congress will have no effect in Tripura," Choudhury said.
The court order has sparked widespread debate, with allegations of irregularities and misuse of power in West Bengal gaining traction among the opposition parties.
Despite a high-profile campaign in Tripura in 2023, the TMC was met with significant resistance from the local population, who remained wary of the party's governance style and intentions.
Earlier, reacting to the high court order, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government gave reservations to "a large number of Muslims without any process".
"The court acted and stayed OBC certificates. Mamata Banerjee is giving reservations to Muslims for her vote bank politics," Shah said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she will not accept the judgement and "OBC reservation continues and will always continue".
"The Prime Minister is saying that minorities will take away the Tapasheeli reservation, can this ever happen? Minorities can never touch the Tapasheeli or tribal reservation, but these mischievous people (BJP) get their work done through agencies, they have got the order through someone but I will not accept this opinion...Those who have given the order should keep it to themselves, we will not accept the opinion of BJP, OBC reservation continues and will always continue," she said while addressing a poll rally at Khardah under the Dumdum Lok Sabha constituency recently.