Thu Jul 24 08:48:59 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, keeping in mind the imagined “The View From India” perspective:

**Summary:**

The Supreme Court of India has expressed reservations about a Calcutta High Court decision that halted the West Bengal government’s efforts to finalize a new list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The Supreme Court cited past precedent (Indira Sawhney case) indicating that OBC identification can be done through executive orders, not necessarily requiring legislation. This development follows a previous High Court ruling that struck down West Bengal’s inclusion of certain castes (largely Muslim communities) in the OBC list based solely on religion, impacting numerous OBC certificates issued since 2010. The Supreme Court will hear the case on July 28th, with concerns raised about ongoing contempt proceedings against the state government.

**News Article:**

**The View From India: Supreme Court Questions Halt to West Bengal’s OBC List Revision**

*New Delhi, July 24, 2025* – A legal tussle is brewing over the revision of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list in West Bengal, with the Supreme Court of India stepping in to question a Calcutta High Court decision. The High Court had previously stayed the West Bengal government’s attempt to finalize a new OBC list, arguing that such classifications required legislative backing.

During preliminary arguments on Thursday, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, raised doubts about the High Court’s stance. Citing the landmark Indira Sawhney case from 1992, the court pointed out that previous judicial precedent allows for the identification of backward classes through executive orders.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing West Bengal, informed the court that the state was facing contempt proceedings from the High Court due to its efforts to revise the OBC list. The core issue stems from an earlier High Court ruling that struck down West Bengal’s policy of including several castes, primarily Muslim communities, in the OBC list solely based on their religion. This earlier judgment impacted approximately five lakh OBC certificates issued since 2010 and nullified parts of the West Bengal Backward Classes Act of 2012.

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for July 28th and indicated it would pass orders on Monday, raising concerns about the ongoing contempt proceedings. The case is significant as it addresses the criteria for OBC identification and the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches in social justice matters. From an Indian perspective, the case highlights the complexities of caste-based reservations and the ongoing efforts to ensure fair representation and upliftment of marginalized communities, while adhering to constitutional principles.

The Supreme Court’s intervention will hopefully provide much needed clarification in the matter.

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