SC raps West Bengal Govt over hostage crisis of judicial officers during SIR protests, asks EC order a CBI/NIA probe

The Supreme Court on Thursday took a serious note of protests in West Bengal, where judicial officers involved in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work were reportedly held hostage.

The top court, taking Suo motu cognizance, has directed the Election Commission of India to entrust the enquiry into the incident to either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

“We direct ECI to entrust the enquiry /Investigation into yesterday's incident to either the CBI or NIA. The compliance report shall be submitted to this court. The agency shall be obligated to submit a preliminary enquiry report directly to this court,” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said during a hearing on SIR in West Bengal, according to legal news website Bar and Bench.

As many as seven judicial officers, including three women, were held hostage by villagers in Malda district on Wednesday. The standoff was triggered by mass deletions from the electoral rolls under the ongoing SIR process.

Terming the incident a brazen and deliberate attempt to obstruct the administration of justice, a bench led by CJI Surya Kant noted with concern that despite prior intimation, the State authorities failed to act promptly, leaving judicial officers without protection, food, or water for hours. The Court has issued show-cause notices to senior State officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director General of Police, for their inaction.

“This incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but also challenges authority of this court. It was not routine incident but appears to be calculated, motivated move to demoralise the judicial officers and stop the ongoing process of adjudicating of objections in left out cases,” the CJI said.

The court has posted the matter on 6 April, and asked officials to be present online.

The incident was part of a broader wave of protests that paralysed Malda throughout the day, as demonstrators staged road blockades across national and state highways and key rural routes in at least five Assembly constituencies, news agencies said.

“We will not allow anyone to interfere and take law in their hands in order to create psychological attack on mind of judicial officers and constituted criminal contempt. This is also an abdication of duty by West Bengal government and the officers need to furnish reasons why even after being informed did the officers not ensure safe evacuation of the officers,” he said.

This development comes after TMC supporters launched an indefinite protest near the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office in Kolkata, alleging large-scale irregularities in the submission of Form 6 applications and demanding strict action against those involved.

“It was imperative for the state govt to inform ECI and seek deployment of central forces and seek safety of the judicial officers,” the CJI said.

The Court also directed the poll panel to deploy central forces for the safe working of judicial officers, including at their residences

“If any judicial officer has any apprehension regarding threat family, such threat perception to be immediately assessed and immediate measures to be taken,” the court said, adding that the poll panel and the state government should take all remedial measures for the safe functioning of the task entrusted to the judicial officers.

“Home secretary, DGP, district magistrate and all police officials are directed to ensure that not more than two or three persons shall be allowed to enter to file objections or when hearing takes place and not more than 5 shall be allowed to assemble. Adequate measures to be taken,” it said,

The Chief Secretary , DGP, and the state chief electoral officer are directed to submit a compliance report.

(With inputs from Bar and Bench)