The Calcutta High Court has cancelled all OBC certificates issued by the West Bengal government since 2010, after hearing a public interest litigation challenging the state's Backward Classes Act. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stated that she will not accept the order and that OBC reservation will continue in the state. While this decision affects over five lakh people, those currently in service or who have already benefited from OBC reservation will not be impacted. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has welcomed the court's decision, criticizing the state government for giving OBC reservation to 118 Muslim communities without proper process.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has filed a Public Interest Litigation at the Calcutta High Court against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent comments accusing certain monks of working for the BJP. The VHP claims that such remarks could incite attacks on the mentioned institutions. One monk, who was targeted by the Chief Minister, has also filed a legal notice and approached the High Court for protection. The VHP has also organized a protest rally to protect the sanctity of these iconic institutions.
A recent ruling by the Calcutta High Court has invalidated the recruitment of 23,753 teachers and non-teaching staff by the 2016 School Service Commission, citing manipulation of OMR sheets and illegal inclusion of names in the panel. This decision was met with criticism from leader of the TMC, who claimed the state government only wanted to accommodate those who were not hired through proper channels. The case has also led to further investigations by the CBI and ED, resulting in the arrest of several government officials involved in the scam. Meanwhile, the BSEAP is set to announce the AP SSC results today.
The Calcutta High Court has taken matters into its own hands, ordering a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Sandeshkhali incident where an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was attacked while on the way to raid the house of former Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan. The high court has quashed a previous SIT and ordered the police to hand over Shahjahan's custody to the CBI. This comes after violent protests erupted over the alleged role of Shahjahan in sexual assault and land-grabbing. In lighter news, filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor discusses his legal battle with Kedarnath debutant Sara Ali Khan, praising her determination and hard work despite production issues.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought an urgent hearing of their appeal against the SIT formed by a single-judge to probe the attack on its officers in Sandeshkhali. The division bench, led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, stayed the single judge's order last month and has yet to decide on the urgency of the hearing. The ED and CBI have both opposed the West Bengal Police from investigating the case against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who is also facing multiple charges of rape, land grabbing, and assault.
The Calcutta High Court has asked the West Bengal government to create a subdivision-wise list of accused persons who have been in custody for more than five years to expedite their trials. The request was made in a bail petition filed by a man who has been in custody for 13 years in connection with a 2011 massacre. The court has directed the CBI to submit a report on the status of proceedings in the case. In related news, IE 100 has released its list of the 100 most powerful Indians this year, showing the BJP's continued hold on power with the Opposition struggling to keep up.