In the metropolis of New Delhi, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has advocated for an augmentation in the allotment of reserved slots for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) concerning public employments in the regions of Punjab and West Bengal.
This stance taken by the Commission follows an in-depth scrutiny of existing reservation doctrines, verbal testimonies, and corroborative evidences, aiming to harmonize with the directives delineated by the apex court in the Indra Sawhney lawsuit, as per an official advisory.
Presently, Punjab designates 25 percent of public employment opportunities for Scheduled Castes and 12 percent for OBCs, summing up to a total reservation of 37 percent. The NCBC has put forth a proposition to augment the OBC quota by an additional 13 percent, thereby elevating the aggregate OBC reservation in public employments to 25 percent.
This proposed adjustment is poised to adhere to the apex court’s threshold of permitting up to 50 percent reservation for socially and educationally disadvantaged classes. D K Tiwari, Additional Chief Secretary of the Punjab Government, made an appearance before the NCBC on February 22, affirming the state’s unwavering commitment to effectuate the Commission’s recommendations.
The categorization of OBCs in West Bengal encompasses 35 recently added castes/communities. As of the present moment, 143 communities have been incorporated in the state’s OBC roster, with 83 castes/communities affiliated with the Muslim faith. A total of 179 OBC communities are cataloged in West Bengal’s state roster of OBCs.
Category ‘A’ (more disadvantaged) encompasses 81 castes, out of which 73 communities are affiliated with the Muslim faith, while Category ‘B’ (Disadvantaged) encompasses 98 castes, with 45 communities associated with the Muslim faith. The reservation for Category ‘A’ (More Disadvantaged) stands at 10 percent, while for Category ‘B’ (Disadvantaged) it stands at seven percent.
In terms of services and positions under the jurisdiction of West Bengal, the reservation quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes are 22 percent, six percent, and 17 percent respectively. This is applicable to establishments operated or aided by the government.
“Through the issuance of notifications, a reservation of 17 percent has been ensured for Other Backward Classes with regard to services and positions under the auspices of the government of West Bengal. Consequently, the cumulative reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes for public employments amounts to 45 percent,” the statement elaborated.
The NCBC noted that the remaining five percent quota in public employments under the administration’s purview could be escalated in the context of OBCs, pursuant to the apex court’s directives, adhering to the ceiling of up to 50 percent.