Calcutta HC Tells Bengal CEO to Rule in a Week on Use of Scrapped OBC Certificates in Voter Roll Drive

Overview

• Justice Krishna Rao directed the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer to consider a voter’s representation and issue a reasoned, speaking order within seven days.
• Petitioner Arijit Bakshi asked election authorities to clarify that only valid OBC certificates be accepted, citing SIR forms that list OBC documents as acceptable proof.
• Counsel for the Election Commission, Anamika Pandey, told the court a related challenge to the SIR is pending before the Supreme Court, urging restraint.
• The single-judge bench said the plea targets administrative clarity rather than the SIR process itself and disposed of the case with the directive to decide the representation.
• A Calcutta High Court division bench in May 2024 cancelled OBC certificates issued since 2010, with existing beneficiaries protected, while the ECI’s December 16 draft roll guidance still lists OBC certificates among 13 identity documents.