The Supreme Court on Monday said it will intervene into the alleged threat to SIR officials in poll-bound West Bengal if the state machinery fails.
While hearing the plea challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, CJI Surya Kant said “If state machinery fails, then we will see what to do."
The Supreme Court on Monday said it will intervene into the alleged threat to SIR officials in poll-bound West Bengal if the state machinery fails.
While hearing the plea challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, CJI Surya Kant said “If state machinery fails, then we will see what to do."
This was after seven judicial officers involved in the SIR process in were allegedly gheraoed for around nine hours in Malda district.
Tensions flared across parts of West Bengal’s Malda last week, with protesters blocking highways, vandalising a police vehicle and clashing with security forces over alleged discrepancies in voter rolls.
Following the incident, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) initiated a detailed probe. The NIA has questioned a wide range of individuals in connection with the incident. Sources told News18 that, based on preliminary findings, investigators suspect the protests may have been pre-planned. The near-simultaneous emergence of demonstrations in different areas has raised concerns about a coordinated effort.
The investigators also examining procedural lapses as there are indications of a delay in the administrative response, placing the role of the local administration under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said law and order was no longer “in her hands" and blaming the Election Commission for failing to protect officials.
The Chief Secretary and DGP do not contact me anymore. Since everything has been taken away from me, maintaining law and order is now your responsibility," she said.
“I condemn the Election Commission for failing to protect the judicial officers," she said at a rally in Murshidabad.
She claimed that after the announcement of the Assembly elections, the poll body had deployed its own officers in key administrative and police positions, effectively taking control.
“All my powers have been taken away, I have never seen such an Election Commission," she said.
