Apex court pulls up West Bengal administration, orders accountability and possible central probe
April 2, 2026: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of violence and alleged misconduct against judicial officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Malda, West Bengal. Acting on a letter from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, a bench led by the Chief Justice of India expressed strong displeasure over administrative lapses and issued show-cause notices to top state officials, including the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and district authorities. All concerned officials have been directed to appear virtually before the court on April 6.
In a significant directive, the court asked the Election Commission of India to ensure an independent probe into the incident, suggesting agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency. The investigating body has been instructed to submit its report directly to the apex court. The Chief Justice remarked that the situation was monitored till 2 am and questioned the inaction of local authorities, noting that judicial officers faced stone-pelting even during evacuation.
The violence erupted in Kaliachak, where protests over alleged exclusion from electoral rolls escalated into unrest, with roads blocked and vehicles vandalised. Seven judicial officers, including three women, were surrounded and held for hours before being rescued around midnight. The incident has raised concerns over ignored prior warnings and inadequate security, especially as West Bengal heads into Assembly elections scheduled later this month, intensifying the political atmosphere.