Malda incident was calculated, motivated: 5 key Supreme Court remarks on Bengal
The Supreme Court criticised the West Bengal government for failing to protect judicial officers during a nine-hour gherao in Malda and described the incident as a calculated attempt to disrupt the electoral process.
The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on the West Bengal government over the nine-hour gherao of judicial officers in Malda, calling it a “pre-planned, calculative and motivated” attempt to derail the electoral process and demoralise officials.
Seven judicial officers, including three women officials engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, were held inside the Block Development Officer’s office as protesters objected to voter deletions. The court also ordered the deployment of central armed forces to ensure their safety.
Here are five key quotes from the Supreme Court:
"This incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but also challenges authority of this Court. It was not routine incident but appears to be calculated, motivated move to demoralise the judicial officers and stop the ongoing process of adjudicating of objections in left out cases,” the court said in the order.
“This reflects an abdication of duty by the West Bengal government, and its officers must explain why, despite being informed, they failed to ensure the safe evacuation of the judicial officers,” the court said, with the Chief Justice adding, “till 11 pm your Collector was not there. I had to issue very harsh verbal orders at night.”
advertisement“We will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands to create psychological fear among judicial officers performing a solemn duty,” the bench said, warning that such actions could amount to criminal contempt. It also criticised what it termed a “criminal failure” of the state administration.
"Unfortunately in your state each one speaks political language and this is the most polarised state. You are forcing us to make observations. Do you think we are not aware of who are the miscreants? I was monitoring everything till 2 am. Very very unfortunate," the Chief Justice told the West Bengal Advocate General.
"All leaders need to condemn this in one voice. We are here to protect the officers. Their orders are deemed to be orders of our court," the judge said.
The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on the West Bengal government over the nine-hour gherao of judicial officers in Malda, calling it a “pre-planned, calculative and motivated” attempt to derail the electoral process and demoralise officials.
Seven judicial officers, including three women officials engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, were held inside the Block Development Officer’s office as protesters objected to voter deletions. The court also ordered the deployment of central armed forces to ensure their safety.
Here are five key quotes from the Supreme Court:
"This incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but also challenges authority of this Court. It was not routine incident but appears to be calculated, motivated move to demoralise the judicial officers and stop the ongoing process of adjudicating of objections in left out cases,” the court said in the order.
“This reflects an abdication of duty by the West Bengal government, and its officers must explain why, despite being informed, they failed to ensure the safe evacuation of the judicial officers,” the court said, with the Chief Justice adding, “till 11 pm your Collector was not there. I had to issue very harsh verbal orders at night.”
“We will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands to create psychological fear among judicial officers performing a solemn duty,” the bench said, warning that such actions could amount to criminal contempt. It also criticised what it termed a “criminal failure” of the state administration.
"Unfortunately in your state each one speaks political language and this is the most polarised state. You are forcing us to make observations. Do you think we are not aware of who are the miscreants? I was monitoring everything till 2 am. Very very unfortunate," the Chief Justice told the West Bengal Advocate General.
"All leaders need to condemn this in one voice. We are here to protect the officers. Their orders are deemed to be orders of our court," the judge said.
