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Unleashes Fury on West Bengal Over Mob Siege of Judges: 'Brazen Contempt' and Orders Probe
In a blistering on , a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, condemned the and attack on seven judicial officers—including three women—in Malda district's Kaliachowk area as a direct challenge to the 's authority . The incident, tied to the Election Commission of India's ( ) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, prompted immediate directives for central forces deployment, an independent / investigation, and to West Bengal's top officials.
Nightmare in Malda: From to Stone-Pelting
The crisis unfolded on when "anti-social elements" surrounded the officers at a Block Development Office (BDO) around 3:30 p.m., holding them hostage without food or water for over nine hours. Despite urgent alerts from 's Registrar General, state authorities displayed "conspicuous inertia" until 8:30 p.m. The High Court Chief Justice's personal intervention—group calls to the Home Secretary and DGP, followed by their midnight visit to his residence—finally secured release after 12 a.m. Shockingly, as the officers fled, mobs pelted their vehicles with stones, sticks, and bricks.
This wasn't isolated; it capped months of tensions in West Bengal's SIR drive, where ~700 officers from Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand have cleared 47 lakh of 65 lakh objections amid threats. The , monitoring via since February, noted prior transfers of the Chief Secretary (to Dushyant Nariala), Home Secretary, and DGP on —yet failures persisted. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later blamed the for "super President's Rule" and external provocateurs like AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, while BJP called it a "black spot" by TMC goons protecting infiltrators.
Defenses Crumble: State vs. in Courtroom Clash
West Bengal's counsel, including
, labeled it an "apolitical protest" or "unfortunate incident," stressing
-appointed officials were beyond state control. They urged toning down phrases like
"complete breakdown of law and order."
CJI Surya Kant shot back:
"If the protest was apolitical, then what were the political leaders doing?"
, via and , decried "mobocracy" and "jungle raj," insisting judicial officers were the Court's "extended hands." Naidu warned physical intimidation escalates from threats, diluting prior orders for quasi-judicial verification of 1.25 crore "logical discrepancies." The bench agreed, rejecting routine protest claims as the episode exposed administrative "criminal failure."
Judiciary's Shield: Contempt, Precedents, and Ironclad Logic
The Court rooted its response in , deeming the " " for fostering "psychological fear" in officers discharging -directed duties. No precedents were explicitly cited, but the order echoed broader principles from ongoing SIR monitoring—e.g., 's deputing of District Judges as quasi-judicial extensions of the apex court, and 's requisition of civil judges for 80 lakh discrepancies.
Distinguishing mob action from legitimate protest, the bench stressed: officers' SIR roles are
"for and on behalf of this Court,"
making interference a frontal assault. It flagged the Chief Secretary's uncontactable status (no WhatsApp-enabled number) as emblematic of "highly deplorable" lapses, mandating
notification for central forces—ignored here.
Key Observations
"This incident certainly cannot be construed to be a routine occurrence and,, appears to be a calculated, well-planned and deliberate act intended to demoralise judicial officers and obstruct the ongoing process...""Such conduct, undoubtedly, amounts to within the meaning of . Besides, it reflects a complete failure on the part of the civil and police administration..."
"We are also extremely disappointed to note... that the Chief Secretary of the State could not be contacted, as he had not shared a mobile number with WhatsApp facility..."
"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."
Directives with Teeth: Central Forces, Probes, and Accountability
The Court issued sweeping interim orders: - : Requisition/deploy central forces at all SIR sites, officers' residences/hotels; entrust Malda probe to / (Chief CEC Gyanesh Kumar assigned same day, team en route); assess family threat perceptions. - State/ : Limit gatherings to 5 persons max at adjudication venues; remedial safety measures. - Officials : Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, Malda DM/SSP to show-cause why action shouldn't follow; virtual appearance ; compliance reports due.
Implications ripple wide: Bolsters judicial security nationwide during polls, signals zero tolerance for electoral mobocracy, and pressures Bengal's polarized admin (CJI: "most polarised state" ). With SIR deadline looming ( for phase-1 districts), it ensures ~18 lakh pending objections proceed sans "chilling effect," potentially averting disenfranchisement claims in upcoming assembly elections. Future cases may invoke this as precedent for contempt in poll duties.
The Registry will circulate the Calcutta HC Chief Justice's D.O. letter, underscoring institutional solidarity amid crisis.
