The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of alleged violence and misconduct against judicial officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal’s Malda district, raising serious concerns over administrative lapses and law and order.
A bench led by the Chief Justice of India is hearing the matter after the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court wrote to the apex court detailing the incident.
Top Officials Issued Show-Cause Notices
Expressing strong displeasure, the Supreme Court issued show-cause notices to the West Bengal Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), and the District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Malda. They have been asked to explain why action should not be taken against them.
The court also directed all concerned officials to be present during an online hearing scheduled for April 6.
In a significant move, the bench said the Election Commission should ensure that the incident is investigated by an independent agency, suggesting that bodies such as the CBI or NIA could be considered. The court further directed that the investigating agency must submit its report directly to the Supreme Court.
‘We Were Monitoring Till 2 am’: CJI
Detailing the sequence of events, the Chief Justice noted that the Malda DM and SP failed to reach the spot despite the gravity of the situation. It was only after the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice contacted the DGP that the stranded judicial officers could be evacuated late at night.
Even then, the officers reportedly faced stone-pelting while leaving the area.
“Do you think we are unaware of who the miscreants were? I was monitoring the situation till 2 am,” the CJI remarked, indicating the court’s close scrutiny of developments.
The bench also reprimanded the West Bengal Advocate General, observing that “unfortunately, every officer in your state speaks a political language”.
Chaos in Kaliachak: Judicial Officers Held Hostage
The incident unfolded in Kaliachak, where protests over alleged exclusion of names from the electoral rolls escalated into widespread unrest. Demonstrators reportedly blocked roads, set fires, and vandalised vehicles, turning the area into a flashpoint of violence.
Seven judicial officers, including three women, appointed by the High Court for SIR-related work, were allegedly surrounded and held for several hours at a block development office. They were finally rescued around midnight under the protection of central forces.
Even after their evacuation, attempts were reportedly made to obstruct their movement by placing barricades on roads, forcing a tense and difficult exit from the area.
Prior Warnings Ignored?
The developments have also raised questions about preparedness. Judicial officers had earlier, on March 23, flagged concerns to the district administration about possible unrest and requested that proceedings be shifted from the block office to the district headquarters.
However, no preventive measures were taken, according to the information presented before the court.
The Supreme Court had previously directed the state government to ensure adequate security and facilities for judicial officers engaged in the SIR process. During a hearing on March 10, the Chief Justice had also emphasised that judicial officers must not be questioned for their role in identifying ineligible voters.
Political Flashpoint Ahead of Polls
The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in two phases, April 23 and April 29, with counting on May 4.
The SIR process has already become a major political issue, with both the ruling party and opposition trading sharp accusations. While four supplementary electoral lists have been released, many voters reportedly remain uncertain about their inclusion, adding to public anxiety.
