New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the West Bengal government and state police over the SIR protests in Malda district, during which seven judicial officers were held hostage for hours.
The judicial officials, including three women, were gheraoed and held hostage for over 9 hours by a group of locals as their names were deleted from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The locals allegedly surrounded judicial officers and prevented them from leaving the premises.
Taking suo motu conginsance on the incident, the top court said that it is deplorable that officers were held hostage in Malda. The SC further said it appears to be a “calculated and motivated” move to demoralise judicial officers and stop ongoing electoral process.
Rebuking the Mamata Banerjee government and administrative officers, the apex court said this is an abdication of duty by them and said they need to give reasons for their “inaction”.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant further underscored that it will not allow anyone to interfere and take the law into their own hands for a psychological attack on judicial officers.
The top court sought responses from West Bengal DGP and other senior officers as to why action should not be taken against them for their ‘inaction’.
“This incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but also challenges authority of this court,” the bench observed.
Terming the incident as extremely serious, the apex court expressed concern regarding the law and order situation in the state. The bench said that such incidents obstruct the judicial process and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
The top court directed the Election Commission of India to deploy central forces at all locations where judicial officers are adjudicating objections for the smooth conduct of the SIR exercise.