Premium

SIR Bengal 2.0: Which OBC certificates will be allowed during hearings and why

The Bengal Chief Electoral Officer has circulated instructions to all District Electoral Officers, enclosing the Calcutta High Court’s December 24, 2025 order on the matter

2 min readJan 1, 2026 03:06 PM IST

Based on these directions, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, has circulated instructions to all District Electoral Officers (DEOs), enclosing the Calcutta High Court’s December 24, 2025 order on the matter.

In the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, the Election Commission has issued a clear explanation on which Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates will be considered valid during hearings.

The CEO’s communication detailed the High Court’s directions. The court had said that OBC certificates issued to 64 classes and 76 classes under government notifications dated May 27, 2025, June 3, 2025, and June 12, 2025 are valid from the dates of those notifications. These certificates can be accepted as one of the 13 documents approved by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for SIR 2026.

The court also said that OBC certificates issued to 66 classes before 2010 will continue to be accepted as one of the 13 ECI-approved documents for SIR 2026.

However, the court stated that OBC certificates issued between 2010 and 2024 to 113 classes are not valid. Since these certificates were cancelled by the Calcutta High Court, they have “no locus standi in the eye of law, and therefore cannot be treated as a valid document”, according to the order.

The petitioner, Arijit Bakshi, a registered voter in West Bengal, had argued before the court that the Election Commission must clearly specify that only valid OBC certificates, and not those categories struck down by the High Court, should be accepted during the electoral roll revision process.

In May 2024, the Calcutta High Court had cancelled OBC reservations granted to 77 categories, citing the absence of a clear legislative policy in the 2012 scheme for classifying communities as OBCs. The West Bengal government has challenged the ruling in the Supreme Court, where the matter is currently pending.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...