Apex court calls incident ‘direct challenge’ to rule of law
The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on the West Bengal government over the gherao of judicial officers in Malda, calling the state “highly polarised” and terming the incident a “preplanned, calculated and motivated” attempt to derail the electoral process.
Taking serious note of the episode, a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the incident amounted to a direct challenge to the authority of the court and exposed a breakdown of law and order in the state.
Show-cause notices issued to top officials
The apex court issued show-cause notices to senior state officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and Director General of Police, questioning their inaction despite prior alerts.
The court described the incident as a “brazen attempt” to intimidate judicial officers engaged in election-related duties and warned that such acts would not be tolerated.
Central forces sought for protection
Directing immediate corrective measures, the Supreme Court asked the Election Commission to requisition central forces to ensure the safety of judicial officers and the smooth conduct of the SIR adjudication process.
It also ordered strict security arrangements at all venues, restricted public access, and mandated an urgent assessment of threats faced by officers and their families. Officials have been directed to submit compliance reports and appear virtually at the next hearing.
Court slams ‘failure of state machinery’
Expressing strong displeasure, the court observed that the incident “strikes at the very root of the rule of law” and constitutes criminal contempt.
“We will not permit any individual or group to take the law into their own hands or create fear among judicial officers,” the bench said, adding that the conduct of senior officials was “highly deplorable”.
What happened in Malda
The court noted that seven judicial officers, including three women, were gheraoed for several hours in Malda district while adjudicating claims related to electoral roll revisions.
According to officials, protests began on Wednesday afternoon after demonstrators were denied entry to meet the officers. The situation escalated into a prolonged blockade, leaving the officials stranded without basic amenities.
The Chief Justice said he personally monitored the situation late into the night, underlining the gravity of the incident.
Calling it an “abdication of duty” by the state administration, the court made it clear that accountability would be fixed and that it would ensure full protection for judicial officers involved in election duties.
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