Kolkata, Nov. 2 -- The Calcutta High Court has sought an explanation from the West Bengal Board of Primary Education on whether candidates who initially applied under OBC-A and OBC-B categories can be allowed to switch to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category during an ongoing primary teacher recruitment process, following a change in the state's OBC list.
Justice Arjun Ray Mukherjee observed that the question of whether a change in circumstances during the selection process gives candidates the right to seek a change of category, and whether the Board has a corresponding obligation to permit it, cannot be decided without affidavits from the respondents.
The petitioners, including Mohabul Islam, had applied for assistant teacher posts under OBC-A and OBC-B categories in a recruitment drive for 13,421 vacancies in government-aided and government-sponsored primary and junior basic schools.
On May 18, 2026, the state's Backward Classes Welfare department withdrew earlier OBC notifications and published a list of 66 OBC classes eligible for 7 per cent reservation in government services and posts. The petitioners subsequently applied for EWS certificates, which were issued after assessment of their gross annual income.
However, a notification issued by the Board on October 14 allowed candidates who had applied under OBC-A and OBC-B to modify their categories until October 31. Those failing to do so would automatically be treated as unreserved candidates.
The petitioners alleged that the Board did not allow them to update their category to EWS despite having obtained the requisite certificates.
Opposing the plea, the Board submitted that it had acted in accordance with the government's policy decision and that allowing the requested change at this stage would effectively grant the petitioners their final relief.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.