Supreme Court Responds to Hostage Situation of Judicial Officials in West Bengal
Judicial Officials Held Hostage in Malda: Supreme Court Reacts
New Delhi: On Thursday, the Supreme Court expressed grave concern regarding the incident where seven judicial officials were reportedly taken 'hostage' during an SIR exercise in Malda district, West Bengal. The court condemned the situation as unacceptable and demanded explanations from the state's home secretary, the Director General of Police, and other relevant officials for their lack of action.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, authorized the Election Commission to pursue either a CBI or NIA investigation into this alarming event.
The court characterized the incident as a 'calculated' and 'motivated' effort to undermine the morale of judicial officers and disrupt the electoral process.
Highlighting the breakdown of law and order in the state, the Chief Justice criticized state officials for their slow response to the crisis.
The seven judicial officials, including three women, were reportedly surrounded by anti-social elements in Malda, with the Chief Justice stating he had to oversee the situation until late Wednesday night.
Referring to media coverage of the event, the court described it as a 'blatant attempt' to intimidate judicial officers and challenge the court's authority.
The bench firmly stated that it would not tolerate any interference or unlawful actions aimed at psychologically attacking judicial officers. It instructed the Election Commission to request central forces from across the nation to ensure the safety of the judicial officers, their families, and other staff involved in SIR activities.
The court criticized the West Bengal government for its 'abdication of duty' and demanded justifications for their inaction.
The seven judicial officers were reportedly surrounded for several hours due to protests over the removal of names from the electoral rolls. Initially, the protesters sought a meeting with the officials, but after being denied access, they began their demonstration around 4 PM on Wednesday, effectively gheraoing the premises.
Among those trapped inside during the protest were three female judicial officers.