The Supreme Court on Thursday took serious note of
seven judicial officials engaged in SIR exercise being taken
"hostage" in West Bengal's Malda district, terming it deplorable and
seeking responses from the state home secretary, DGP and other officials for
their "inaction".
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices
Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi permitted the Election Commission to seek
either CBI or NIA probe into the unfortunate incident.
It said the incident appears to be a
"calculated" and "motivated move to demoralise judicial
officers" and to stop the ongoing electoral process.
Observing that the law and order machinery in the
state has "broken down", the CJI came down hard on state officials
for their delayed action in the issue.
Seven judicial officials, including three women,
were taken hostage by the anti-social elements at Malda district, the CJI said,
adding that he himself had to monitor the situation till late night on
Wednesday.
The top court referred to media reports on the
incident and said it was a "brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial
officers but also challenges authority of this court".
The bench said it will not allow anyone to interfere
and take law in their hands for psychological attack on judicial officers, and
asked the Election Commission to seek central forces from anywhere in the
country to protect the judicial officers, their families and other staff
engaged in SIR works.
Adding that it was an "abdication of duty"
by the West Bengal government and its officers, the court said they will have
to give reasons for their inaction.
Seven judicial officers engaged in SIR were gheraoed
for several hours in Malda district over the deletion of names from the
electoral rolls, officials had said.
According to officials, the protesters initially
sought a meeting with the judicial officers. After being denied entry, they
began a demonstration around 4 pm on Wednesday and gheraoed the premises.
Three women judicial officers were among those stuck
inside the office during the protest, officials had said.