The Supreme Court took serious action after judicial officers were attacked and gheraoed in West Bengal during election roll revision work. The Court called it a “challenge to the authority of this Court” and ordered an independent probe and immediate security deployment.
The Supreme Court of India has taken very serious note of an incident in West Bengal where judicial officers were attacked and illegally surrounded while performing their official duties related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Court was hearing a suo motu writ petition regarding the safety and security of judicial officers deployed for election-related work in West Bengal.
The matter came before the Supreme Court after a D.O. letter dated 02.04.2026 was sent by the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, informing the Supreme Court about disturbing incidents that took place during the electoral roll revision process.
The Supreme Court noted that the situation was already being monitored by the Court in an earlier writ petition and directions had been issued from time to time.
As per the information received by the Court, seven judicial officers, including three women officers, were gheraoed by anti-social elements at the BDO office in the Kaliachowk area of Maldah district. The gherao started around 3:30 PM.
The Registrar General of the Calcutta High Court immediately informed the State administrative authorities and requested urgent intervention. However, the authorities did not take prompt action and there was a delay in responding to the situation.
The situation became very serious and the Registrar General had to contact the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police through a group call along with the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
Although oral assurances were given by the officials that action would be taken quickly, no significant action was taken for several hours. The Court was also informed that the situation was so bad that even food and water were not allowed to be supplied to the judicial officers who were surrounded.
The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court also pointed out that neither the District Magistrate nor the Superintendent of Police reached the BDO office where the officers were gheraoed. The situation forced the Chief Justice to call the Director General of Police and the Home Secretary to his residence so that the situation could be monitored directly.
Senior judges of the High Court were also involved to help control the situation. Finally, the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police reached the residence of the Chief Justice after midnight, and the judicial officers were released after 12 midnight.
However, the incident did not end there. When the judicial officers were returning to their places of stay after being released, their vehicles were attacked with stones, bamboo sticks and bricks. The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court strongly criticized the delay by the civil and police administration in taking action.
The Supreme Court also noted with disappointment that the Chief Secretary of the State could not be contacted because he had not shared a mobile number with WhatsApp facility, due to which communication could not be established with him during the emergency.
The Supreme Court also noted that after a previous court hearing, all District Judges were addressed through video conferencing and judicial officers were motivated to complete the remaining work by 05.04.2026, especially in districts where elections were scheduled in the first phase.
The judicial officers had responded positively and were working continuously without taking leave even on weekends. However, the present incident was likely to create fear in the minds of judicial officers who were working continuously to complete election-related work.
The Supreme Court made very strong observations in the case and said:
“the incident that took place yesterday is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers, but also amounts to a challenge to the authority of this Court.”
The Court further observed:
“This incident certainly cannot be construed to be a routine occurrence and, ex facie, appears to be a calculated, well-planned and deliberate act intended to demoralise judicial officers and obstruct the ongoing process of adjudication of objections in the remaining cases.”
The Supreme Court made it clear that such actions would not be tolerated and said:
“We have no hesitation in observing that we will not permit any person to take the law into their own hands so as to create a climate of psychological fear in the minds of judicial officers who are discharging their duties.”
The Court also stated that such actions amount to criminal contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and also reflect a complete failure of the civil and police administration in maintaining law and order in Maldah district. The Court further made strong remarks against senior state officials and said:
“It also pains us to observe that the manner in which the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Director General of Police, the Collector and the Superintendent of Police have acted is highly deplorable.”
The Supreme Court said that the State administration should have immediately informed the Election Commission of India and requested deployment of central forces to ensure the safety of judicial officers.
After taking note of the seriousness of the incident, the Supreme Court issued several important directions. The Court directed the Election Commission of India to requisition and deploy adequate central forces at all places where judicial officers are working on electoral roll revision.
The Court also directed that proper security arrangements must be made at all places where judicial officers and their families are staying, including hotels and government guest houses. The Court further directed that if any judicial officer feels that their family is under threat, the police must immediately assess the threat and provide necessary protection.
The Court also ordered that not more than five persons should be allowed to enter the premises at a time for filing objections or during hearings, and not more than five persons should be allowed to gather at any place where adjudication work is going on.
The Court directed senior officials including the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and Chief Electoral Officer to submit a compliance report. The Court also directed certain senior officials to show cause why action should not be taken against them for the incident.
Importantly, the Supreme Court also directed that the investigation into the incident should be handed over to an independent agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and a preliminary inquiry report should be submitted directly to the Supreme Court. The Court also directed that all concerned officials must remain virtually present on the next date of hearing on 06.04.2026.
This order of the Supreme Court is very important because it highlights the State’s responsibility to protect judicial officers and ensure that the judicial system can function without fear, pressure, or violence. The Court made it clear that any attempt to threaten or obstruct judicial officers will be treated very seriously, and strict action will be taken. The case will now be heard again on 06 April 2026.
IN RE: SAFETY AND SECURITY OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS DEPUTED FOR WORK
RELATING TO SIR OF ELECTORAL ROLLS IN THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND
ANCILLARY ISSUES
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