The Supreme Court, a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, issued a notice to the West Bengal government and other respondents following a petition that contested the Calcutta High Court's order that rendered OBC certificates issued between May 8, 2025, and May 18, 2026 void.
The High Court had earlier stayed the state's 114 OBC class reservations, citing that the cabinet's re‑declaration in May and June 2025 lacked legal force. The order also invalidated certificates issued in the interim period of June 10, 2025 to May 18, 2026, forcing affected candidates to reapply.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel warned that keeping public posts vacant while the matter remains unresolved would harm merit‑based appointments. The bench replied that any appointments made should be conditional on the outcome of the Special Leave Petition(s) and that the state must incorporate this condition in appointment letters.
Respondents were directed to file counter affidavits within four weeks, followed by a rejoinder within two weeks. The Supreme Court set November 23 as the date to list the case, expecting the West Bengal government to submit its responses before then.
The ruling will have immediate repercussions for thousands of job seekers, including a 28‑year‑old engineer from Howrah who obtained an OBC certificate in June 2025 and now faces uncertainty over his eligibility for a state service exam.