The Supreme Court stressed enhanced security for judicial officers in poll-bound West Bengal after seven officers were gheraoed in Malda for hours on April 1.
The Supreme Court of India. (File)
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to ensure the security of judicial officers deployed to work for the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the poll-bound state.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the observation while hearing a suo motu case concerning the safety and security of judicial officers in West Bengal, days after protests related to the SIR exercise escalated into a law-and-order situation on April 1, with seven judicial officers being gheraoed for over nine hours.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the bench that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will continue the investigation into the incident amid serious allegations against the West Bengal police. The ASG also confirmed that West Bengal has cooperated with the probe.
The Chief Justice of India sought to know the political background of the persons who instigated the gherao against seven judicial officers. In the next phase, we would like to know whether there is any political background of these persons specified. This is not an academic exercise. Will take it to a logical conclusion.”
He also ordered the Election Commission and West Bengal’s Chief Secretary, along with other authorities, to ensure that the security arrangement of judicial officers, including enhanced security given to them, is not withdrawn without the court’s prior permission. “We would like our officers to have security and protection in West Bengal till the elections are over,” CJI Kant said.
The court also placed on record its appreciation and acknowledgement of the “herculean” task faced by the judicial officers during the SIR process. “We appreciate the zeal and enthusiasm of judicial officers… Deployment of central forces shall also continue until further orders.”
What Did NIA Say About Malda Incident?
The unrest in Malda on April 1 was marked by large-scale protests and road blockades against the SIR, including disruption along key highway corridors. Sources told CNN-News18 that, based on preliminary findings, NIA investigators suspect that the protests may have been pre-planned.
Investigators are also examining procedural lapses. There are indications of a delay in the administrative response, placing the role of the local administration under scrutiny. The NIA is working to determine whether this delay contributed to the escalation of the situation.
Earlier, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the West Bengal administration over the “pre-planned, calculated and motivated” attempt to derail the electoral process. CJI Kant called the incident a “brazen attempt to challenge the authority of this Court”.
April 13, 2026, 17:03 IST
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