No food, no water, 9 hours under siege: SC calls Malda attack on 7 judicial officers ‘criminal contempt’; protests enter Day 2
The Statesman | 3 April 2026
The Supreme Court of India on Thursday came down heavily on the West Bengal administration over the attack on judicial officers in Malda, calling it a direct assault on the rule of law, even as fresh protests broke out in the district.
The court’s sharp remarks come amid continuing tension on the ground, with protests over voter list deletions spilling into a second day and raising concerns over the safety of officials involved in the Election Commission’s SIR process.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said seven judicial officers, including three women, were left without protection, food, or water for hours despite prior intimation to the authorities.
Calling the incident a “brazen” and deliberate attempt to obstruct justice, the court issued show-cause notices to senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director General of Police.
“We are extremely disappointed to note these developments. Our previous order clearly reflects that judicial officers, who are entrusted with adjudicating the SIR process, must be allowed to perform their duties without fear or obstruction. The incident that took place is brazen and strikes at the very root of the rule of law. It amounts to a direct challenge to the authority of the Court,” the bench said.
The court said the incident appeared planned and aimed at demoralising judicial officers. “We will not permit any individual or group to take the law into their own hands or to create psychological fear in the minds of judicial officers,” it added.
Terming the conduct as criminal contempt, the court said the actions of top state officials were “highly deplorable”.
“This conduct undoubtedly amounts to criminal contempt of court. It also exposes the failure of the State administration. The conduct of the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, Collector, and Superintendent of Police is highly deplorable. Accordingly, we issue show-cause notices to them as to why effective measures were not taken.”
The bench directed the Election Commission of India to seek deployment of adequate central forces to ensure security for judicial officers and smooth conduct of the adjudication process.
It also ordered strict security at all venues, including hotels and guest houses where officers are staying, and directed that any threat perception faced by officers or their families be assessed immediately.
To regulate crowds, the court said only 3 to 5 persons should be allowed entry at adjudication venues at a time. It also directed officials to file compliance reports and remain present virtually on April 6, the next date of the hearing.
Even as the court issued directions, protests resumed in Malda this morning, particularly in the Mangalbari area of Old Malda block.
Protesters said their names had been removed from the voter list despite having valid documents. National Highway 12, which was briefly opened late at night, was blocked again. Tyres were burnt and bamboo barricades were put up.
Police teams from Malda police station, along with CAPF personnel, have been deployed to control the situation. Pickets have been set up across sensitive locations, including along NH 12 and the Malda-Mothabari State Highway.
The agitation follows similar protests in Kaliachak on Wednesday, where people had blocked highways and surrounded judicial officers. The seven officers were held for nearly nine hours before being rescued around 1 am on Thursday by a large police contingent.
There were also reports that the convoy escorting the officers to safety faced attempts of attack.
Officials said the Intelligence branch has been put on alert as tension continues in the district.
The protests come on the day when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address an election rally in Baishnabnagar in Malda district.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has sought a report from the Director General of West Bengal Police on the incident involving the judicial officers engaged in adjudicating voters marked under the “logical discrepancy” category.
Officials said efforts were made to persuade protesters to lift the blockade by assuring that attempts would be made to re-include deleted names in the voter list at the earliest.