SC orders CBI/NIA probe into Kaliachak incident, lays down rules for judidical officers' safety

The Supreme Court of India has directed a probe by central agencies into the incident where seven judicial officers were held hostage for hours in West Bengal’s Malda district, sharply criticising the state administration for what it termed a “complete failure.” Taking serious note of the episode linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, the court ordered that the investigation be handed over to either the CBI or the NIA and sought a compliance report.

According to the court’s observations, the judicial officers, including three women, were gheraoed inside a Block Development Office in Kaliachak for several hours by a mob. Despite repeated alerts from the High Court registry to state authorities, no effective action was taken for a prolonged period. The officers were allegedly denied basic necessities such as food and water, and were only released late at night. During their evacuation, their vehicles were reportedly attacked with stones and sticks, further escalating the seriousness of the incident.

Expressing strong disapproval, the bench described the episode as a “brazen attempt” to intimidate judicial officers and undermine the authority of the court. It observed that the officers were functioning as its “extended hands” in the SIR process and any obstruction amounted to challenging the judiciary itself. The court also issued notices to senior state officials, including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, asking them to explain why timely action was not taken despite clear warnings.

To ensure uninterrupted functioning of the SIR exercise, the court directed the Election Commission to deploy adequate central forces at all adjudication centres and provide security to judicial officers and their families. It also mandated strict access control at these locations and ordered that only a limited number of individuals be allowed inside at any time. The court further emphasised that it would closely monitor the investigation and compliance, underlining the need to restore confidence among officers carrying out election-related duties.