The Supreme Court has come down heavily on the West Bengal administration after seven judicial officers were held hostage for hours in Malda during an election-related exercise. Calling the situation a “complete breakdown of law and order,” the court expressed serious concern over the safety of officials performing judicial duties.
The incident occurred during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, when officials were verifying voter lists. A group of locals, reportedly upset over the removal of names from the rolls, surrounded the officers inside a government office and prevented them from leaving for nearly nine hours.
Tensions escalated as the standoff continued into the night. Reports said there was stone-pelting and damage to vehicles during the rescue operation, which finally brought the officers to safety in the early hours.
Taking strong note of the incident, the Supreme Court said the attack appeared to be a “planned and motivated” attempt to intimidate judicial officers. The bench also pointed out that such actions directly challenge the authority of the judiciary and cannot be taken lightly.
The court questioned the state government over the lack of adequate security, especially when officials were engaged in a sensitive election-related task. It has asked top state authorities, including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, to explain the lapse.
In a significant move, the court directed that the case be investigated by a central agency, either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The probe will be carried out under the court’s supervision to ensure accountability.
To prevent such incidents in the future, the Supreme Court also ordered the deployment of central armed forces to protect officials involved in the SIR process. It stressed that those carrying out court-mandated duties must be able to work without fear or interference.
The episode has sparked political reactions, with opposition parties criticising the state government’s handling of law and order, while the state leadership has countered with its own allegations.
The court made it clear that any attempt to threaten or obstruct judicial officers strikes at the core of the rule of law and will not be tolerated.
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