"Calculated, Motivated Move": Supreme Court Condemns Attack On Judicial Officers During West Bengal SIR Duty

Taking note of judicial officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal being held hostage yesterday, the Supreme Court has slammed the state government over their non-responsive attitude.

"I don't want to politicize it. But we got reports since 2 am. At 5 pm they gheraoed the officers and till 11 pm there was no one," CJI Surya Kant today observed in court while taking note of the issue.

CJI Surya Kant noted today that Registrar General of the Calcutta High Court had informed administrative authority and requested immediate action but nothing was done till 8:30 pm. "Then home secretary was contacted, along with DGP by the High Court Chief Justice. An assurance was given but no tangible action was taken. Home secretary and DGP reached residence of CJ and judicial officers were relieved after 12 am. When they were released and were going to their places, there was stone pelting on their vehicles and attack by sticks etc. High Court CJ says this incident will have a chilling effect on the judicial officers...", the CJI further noted today.

Accordingly, the bench also comprising Justices Bagchi and PAncholii has ordered that ECI will requisition adequate Central Forces and deploy them at all places where judicial officers are adjudicating the objections. The ECI and the State Government has also been directed to take all remedial measures for the safe functioning of the task entrusted to the judicial officers. If any judicial officer has apprehension of security of his family, such threat perception is to be immediately assessed, and adequate measures are to be taken. Police officers have been directed to ensure that not more than 3-5 persons will enter the premises where adjudication work is going on for filing objections. The ECI has also been directed to entrust the investigation of the incidents to an independent agency, CBI or the NIA as suitable.

In its order, the Supreme Court has said the incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but also challenges authority of this court. It said this was not a routine incident but appeared to be calculated, motivated move to demoralize the judicial officers and stop the ongoing process. "We will not allow anyone to interfere and take law in their hands in order to create psychological attack on mind of judicial officers. This is also an abdication of duty by West Bengal government and the officers need to furnish reasons why even after being informed they did not ensure safe evacuation of the judicial officers", the court has recorded.

When a request was made on behalf of the state to remove observations regarding the complete breakdown of law and order machinery, the CJI in a sharp response said, "Unfortunately in West Bengal each one speaks political language and this is the most polarized state. You are forcing us to make observations. Do you think we are not aware of who the miscreants are... I was monitoring everything till 2 AM. Very very unfortunate".

State of West Bengal was represented by Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Shyam Divan, Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Menaka Guruswamy. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, appearing for Election Commission of India were also present before court.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court had taken up the batch of petitions concerning the West Bengal SIR and refused to entertain allegations over submission of 30,000 Form 6 applications during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision.

Form 6 is applied for inclusion in electoral roll for the first time or for changing the constituency following shifting of residence. "Happens every time, not the first time. You can raise objections," CJI Kant had said.

Reportedly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Chief Election Commissioner levelling serious charges of misuse of Form 6, for enrolling new voters, to bring in outsiders as fake voters into West Bengal's electoral rolls.

Recently, Supreme Court had expressed its concerns over continuous impediments coming in the way of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls being conducted in the state of West Bengal by the Election Commission of India. "I was reading an article on SIR. Except West Bengal, everywhere it has happened smoothly...The article mentioned this", CJI Kant said while hearing fresh issues flagged by the state.

Court has been hearing a batch of petitions challenging the SIR process in West Bengal, including a petition filed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state government has questioned the manner in which the voter roll revision is being carried out, raising concerns over potential deletions and the deployment of micro-observers. The bench had asked the West Bengal government to extend full cooperation to the Election Commission and questioned delays in providing manpower requested by the poll body. The court specifically flagged the timing and manner in which the state had communicated the availability of officers for the exercise, indicating dissatisfaction with the response.

Bench: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi

Hearing Date: April 2, 2026