On Thursday, proceedings in the Supreme Court commenced as usual before a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant. However, within minutes, the courtroom witnessed an unexpected turn as the Chief Justice, in strong terms, came down heavily on the West Bengal government.
Addressing the bench, he said the events that unfolded in Malda from Wednesday afternoon until past midnight – where seven judicial officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) were gheraoed for several hours – were a matter of grave concern for law and order, the political establishment, the judiciary, and democracy itself.
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Recounting the sequence of events, Chief Justice Surya Kant said, “We learned of what was transpiring in Malda only around midnight.” He added that he remained awake until 2 am, in constant telephonic contact with senior state officials and the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, seeking minute-by-minute updates on the safety of the officers.
In a stern observation, he noted, “Ultimately, I was compelled to issue strict verbal directions to the State Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police around midnight.” It was only after this intervention that the administration sprang into action, an urgent necessity given that a young child was also inside the besieged residence.
The Chief Justice further questioned the state administration: “Why had your District Collector not reached the spot even by 11 pm? What, precisely, was the impediment?” With no satisfactory explanation forthcoming, he issued firm directions late at night, following which authorities finally mobilised.
The crowd had begun gathering around 3.30 pm near the office premises. The Registrar General of the Calcutta High Court alerted authorities and sought immediate intervention, but no effective action was taken until 8.30 pm. At that point, the Home Secretary was contacted, and the Director General of Police joined a call with the Chief Justice of the High Court, offering assurances that failed to translate into immediate action.
In a written communication, the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court noted that neither the District Magistrate nor the Superintendent of Police had reached the spot, prompting him to summon the DGP and the Home Secretary.
The Supreme Court observed that the incident amounted to a brazen challenge to judicial authority and reflected gross administrative negligence. It further noted that the officers were targeted after midnight while returning home after handling objections and claims related to the SIR process.
Describing the episode as “premeditated and motivated,” the Court said it was aimed at intimidating judicial officers and disrupting the electoral roll revision process. Such actions, it noted, constituted a direct affront to the Court’s authority and fell within the ambit of criminal contempt.
The Supreme Court directed the deployment of central forces to ensure the security of judicial officers and issued show-cause notices to senior West Bengal officials. It also asked the Election Commission to have the incident probed by either the CBI or the NIA and to submit a preliminary report.
The Court further left it to the Election Commission’s discretion to requisition forces from any appropriate agency to safeguard judicial officers. In its order, the Bench termed the conduct of the Chief Secretary, the DGP, and the Home Secretary as “absolutely reprehensible,” describing the situation as deeply unfortunate and a calculated attempt to demoralise the judiciary and derail the ongoing process.
– Ends
Published On:
Apr 2, 2026 22:39 IST
