Malda Violence NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued a stern reprimand to West Bengal Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala following a security lapse in Malda district where seven judicial officers were allegedly held hostage and assaulted. The bench, comprising CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, expressed grave concern over the state administration’s failure to protect judicial personnel.
Failure of State Machinery and Bureaucratic Accountability
The apex court’s intervention was prompted by an incident on April 1, during which seven judicial officers-including three women-engaged in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work were gheraoed for over nine hours at the Kaliachak Block Development Officer (BDO) office. Even after their rescue, the officers’ vehicles were reportedly targeted with stones and bricks.
The bench took particular exception to Chief Secretary Nariala’s failure to answer a phone call from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court while the crisis was unfolding.
“This reflects a total failure of the district administration. The Chief Secretary must tender an apology to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court for the unanswered calls,” the bench observed.
The court further noted that the credibility of the bureaucracy in West Bengal is being undermined by the infusion of politics into administrative and government offices.
NIA Mandated to Interrogate Detainees
In a significant move to ensure an impartial investigation, the Supreme Court ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to interrogate the 26 individuals currently arrested by the West Bengal Police in connection with the Malda violence. The bench directed that this interrogation proceed even if the accused are currently in judicial custody.
The court characterized the incident as a “pre-planned” act motivated by specific interests. Approximately 700 judicial officers from West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand have been deployed for the SIR process to adjudicate over 60 lakh claims and objections related to the electoral rolls.
Administrative Action and Security Lapses
In the aftermath of the violence, Malda District Magistrate Rajanvir Singh Kapur has issued two show-cause notices to Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order) Sheikh Ansar Ahmed.
The notices allege that Ahmed addressed the mob without authorization on March 31 and made statements regarding the SIR process that exceeded his jurisdictional authority. It is further alleged that Ahmed publicly suggested he would attempt to extend the deadline for resolving objections-a matter strictly under the purview of the Election Commission of India and subject to Supreme Court directives.
Related Developments in North 24 Parganas
In a separate but related administrative crackdown, the Inspector-in-Charge of Naihati Police Station in North 24 Parganas has been suspended. The action followed allegations that a police vehicle was used to transport Naihati Municipality Chairman Ashok Chatterjee to the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) office to assist in the nomination process of a Trinamool Congress candidate.
The suspension came after video evidence of the incident was brought to light, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding the neutrality of the state’s police force during the current electoral cycle.
