Supreme Court Calls West Bengal 'Most Polarized State'

After a serious incident occurred in Malda yesterday where judicial officers were allegedly attacked and held hostage during electoral roll revision work, the Chief Justice of India has called West Bengal a highly polarized state.

"Unfortunately in West Bengal each one speaks political language and this is the most polarized state. You are forcing us to make observations. Do you think we are not aware of who the miscreants are..", CJI Surya Kant noted today while issuing directions after the incidents of violence occurred in West Bengal.

The Supreme Court expressed concern over the safety of officials and the rising political tensions in the state, indicating that such incidents could undermine the rule of law. Slamming the state government over their non-responsive attitude, the CJI said, "I don't want to politicize it. But we got reports since 2 am. At 5 pm they gheraoed the officers and till 11 pm there was no one".

Supreme Court has said the incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but also challenges authority of this court. It said this was not a routine incident but appeared to be calculated, motivated move to demoralize the judicial officers and stop the ongoing process. "We will not allow anyone to interfere and take law in their hands in order to create psychological attack on mind of judicial officers. This is also an abdication of duty by West Bengal government and the officers need to furnish reasons why even after being informed they did not ensure safe evacuation of the judicial officers", the court recorded in its order today.

Accordingly, the bench also comprising Justices Bagchi and Pancholii has ordered that ECI will requisition adequate Central Forces and deploy them at all places where judicial officers are adjudicating the objections. The ECI and the State Government has also been directed to take all remedial measures for the safe functioning of the task entrusted to the judicial officers. If any judicial officer has apprehension of security of his family, such threat perception is to be immediately assessed, and adequate measures are to be taken. Police officers have been directed to ensure that not more than 3-5 persons will enter the premises where adjudication work is going on for filing objections. The ECI has also been directed to entrust the investigation of the incidents to an independent agency, CBI or the NIA as suitable.

Recently, Supreme Court had expressed its concerns over continuous impediments coming in the way of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls being conducted in the state of West Bengal by the Election Commission of India. "I was reading an article on SIR. Except West Bengal, everywhere it has happened smoothly...The article mentioned this", CJI Kant said while hearing fresh issues flagged by the state.

Court has been hearing a batch of petitions challenging the SIR process in West Bengal, including a petition filed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state government has questioned the manner in which the voter roll revision is being carried out, raising concerns over potential deletions and the deployment of micro-observers. The bench had asked the West Bengal government to extend full cooperation to the Election Commission and questioned delays in providing manpower requested by the poll body. The court specifically flagged the timing and manner in which the state had communicated the availability of officers for the exercise, indicating dissatisfaction with the response.

Bench: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi

Hearing Date: April 2, 2026