West Bengal OBC Reservation: West Bengal Assembly has passed two important bills related to OBC reservation. Now the state government will be able to prepare a new list by making changes in the previous OBC list.
A big development was seen in the politics of West Bengal on Monday. The state assembly passed two important bills related to OBC (Other Backward Class) reservation by voice vote. After the implementation of these new laws, the state government will get the right to make changes in the OBC list prepared during the previous government and prepare a new list. This decision may affect the state’s reservation system and the process of OBC reservation in government jobs in the coming times.
What will change with the new law?
Both the bills passed amend existing laws related to OBC reservation and Backward Classes Commission. Under the new provisions, the state government will be able to decide to include or remove any community in the OBC list after consulting the Commission. Besides, OBC communities can also be divided into different categories on the basis of their social and educational backwardness. However, the limit of total reservation in the state will remain 50 percent only.
Backward Classes Commission’s role will be important
In the amended system, the Backward Classes Commission has been given more powers. The Commission will be able to register its objections or suggestions on the inclusion or deletion of any community in the OBC list. The final decision will be taken by the state government after consultation with the commission.
heated debate in the assembly
During the discussion on the bills, there was a heated debate between the ruling party and the opposition in the Assembly. BJP MLAs alleged that the previous government had expanded the OBC list for political gains, giving more benefits to some communities. At the same time, the ruling party rejected these allegations and said that the new system will strengthen social justice and transparency.
2010 system will be restored
Under the new law, the framework of the reservation system implemented in 2010 will be re-implemented. With this, the process of preparing the OBC list afresh by removing some amendments made after 2011 will begin. These bills were introduced in the Assembly by the Backward Classes Welfare Minister, which were passed by voice vote. Now the state government will soon move forward in the direction of preparing a new OBC list in collaboration with the Backward Classes Commission. This decision is being considered an important change in the reservation policy of West Bengal and its impact can be seen on government recruitments and reservation system in the future.