New Delhi, April 9 – A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking urgent directions to ensure the protection of judicial officers, government officials, and citizens from alleged politically motivated violence and intimidation in West Bengal, which is heading towards elections.
The plea, filed by Satish Kumar Aggarwal, a former Vice President of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, invokes the top court's jurisdiction under Article 32 of the Constitution, alleging a pattern of electoral violence and obstruction of public officials in the state over the years.
The petition seeks directions to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to take “all necessary steps,” including the deployment of adequate Central security forces, to safeguard officials and the public, and to ensure free, fair, and safe conduct of elections in West Bengal. It also seeks directions for the state government to maintain law and order during the election period, as well as in the post-election phase.
Highlighting past instances, the plea refers to reports of violence during the 2013 rural elections, where 39 people were allegedly killed, and a significant number of seats were won uncontested, purportedly due to intimidation.
The petitioner also cites the 2018 Panchayat elections, claiming that around 20 people were killed and opposition candidates were prevented from filing nominations due to threats and coercion. "The recurring incidents of political violence in West Bengal reflect a systemic failure to ensure free and fair elections and to protect the fundamental rights of citizens," the petition states.
It also highlights recent developments, including alleged obstruction of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during searches conducted in January this year in Kolkata and Delhi, and incidents involving threats to election officials and government officers in districts such as Nadia and Hooghly.
Furthermore, it refers to an incident during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in April 2026, where seven judicial officers were allegedly surrounded by a mob for several hours, with intervention by police and central forces coming only after prolonged obstruction. "This situation has created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, undermining the ability of officials to discharge their duties independently and without pressure," the petition says.
Another incident in the Hooghly district is cited, where government officers monitoring election compliance were allegedly threatened, necessitating the deployment of central forces.
Describing the situation as "grave and alarming," the petitioner contends that such incidents not only endanger public servants but also undermine the democratic process.
"The failure to protect judicial officers and government functionaries strikes at the very foundation of the rule of law," the petition states.
The petitioner argues that the state machinery has been unable to effectively curb such incidents, necessitating intervention by the Union government and the Supreme Court.
"Conducting elections in an atmosphere of fear, coercion, and violence is antithetical to the constitutional mandate of free and fair elections," it adds.
Among the reliefs sought, the petition urges the apex court to direct authorities to ensure adequate security arrangements, prevent interference by political actors, and take proactive measures to safeguard citizens and officials.