The nation’s highest court has issued a stay order on the Calcutta High Court’s ruling concerning the OBC case. On Monday, the judges expressed astonishment at the high court’s involvement at the outset of the case during the Chief Justice’s bench. How could a stay order be granted on an administrative decision? This question accompanied the announcement of the High Court’s ruling. This action by the Supreme Court is viewed as a significant victory for the state government. The state government had issued a notification approving OBC certificates for college admissions and job recruitment. However, a month earlier, a bench comprising Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty and Justice Rajasekhar Manthar of the Calcutta High Court had issued an interim stay order on that notification, which was valid until July 31. The state government subsequently approached the Supreme Court to contest this order. On Monday, the case was heard by the Supreme Court’s bench, which included Chief Justice BR Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran, and Justice NV Anjariya. The Chief Justice expressed disbelief at the High Court’s role. How did the High Court issue a stay order on an administrative decision? The Chief Justice then issued a stay on the High Court’s ruling and remanded the case. He instructed the Chief Justice of the High Court to establish a new bench and complete the hearing within the next six to eight weeks.
