The Calcutta High Court Bar Association condemned the Malda incident where judicial officers were allegedly held hostage during electoral roll revision. A lawyer accused of instigating the attack has been suspended, with further action sought from the Bar Council of West Bengal.
The Calcutta High Court Bar Association has strongly criticised a serious incident involving alleged attack and intimidation of judicial officers during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The Association passed a resolution in an urgent general body meeting held on April 6, expressing deep concern over what it described as a direct attack on the judiciary.
According to reports highlighted by the Association, seven judicial officers, including three women judges, were allegedly confined and held hostage for nearly nine hours on April 1 in the Kaliachak area of Malda district while they were performing official duties related to electoral roll revision. The incident has raised serious questions about the safety of judicial officers and the rule of law in the state.
In its resolution, the Association strongly condemned the events and stated,
“We, the members of the Bar Association High Court, Calcutta are excruciatingly perturbed by the disturbing visuals and the news that have been circulated widespread regarding the cowardly and dastardly attack on the judiciary and its organs that took place on 01.04.2026… carrying out extreme hooliganism and harassment acting on the active provocative statements made by a certain member of the Bar during the Special Intensive Revision(SIR) in the name of protest,”
said the Association.
The Bar Association also took serious note of reports that advocate Mofakkerul Islam, one of its members, was allegedly a key instigator behind the incident. Taking immediate action, the Association suspended him from membership pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
It further decided to begin disciplinary action aimed at his expulsion and to formally request the Bar Council of West Bengal to cancel his licence to practice law by removing his name from the roll of advocates.
Describing the gravity of the situation, the Association said the incident was not just an isolated act of violence but a deliberate attempt to threaten the judiciary and interfere with its functioning.
It stated,
“We are unable to remain unruffled on such heinous acts being purposely perpetrated on the esteemed Judiciary by way of disseminating a staid terror message promulgated all over the state of West Bengal.”
The resolution also criticised the role of the local administration, particularly the police, for allegedly failing to act during the incident. Highlighting administrative inaction, the Association said,
“We are apprised of the fact that police administration has acted like a mere spectator and allowed such barbarism and unchecked hooliganism to be continued for about 9 hours,”
said the resolution.
The controversy arises in the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, where judicial officers have been assigned the responsibility of hearing and deciding objections from voters whose names have been removed from electoral lists. The process has already been sensitive and politically charged, making the safety of officials even more critical.
Taking serious note of the incident, the Supreme Court of India intervened on April 2 and observed that the gherao of judicial officers was a “brazen attempt to browbeat” them and could disrupt the adjudicatory process.
The Court directed that central armed forces be deployed to ensure the safety of judicial officers engaged in SIR duties and sought explanations from senior state officials regarding the lack of adequate security despite prior warnings.
In a further development on April 6, the Supreme Court handed over the investigation of the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The Court cited serious allegations against the state police and emphasised the need for an independent and impartial investigation to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in the justice system.
The incident has now become a major legal and constitutional concern, highlighting issues of judicial independence, law enforcement accountability, and the protection of officers performing critical democratic functions.
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