New Delhi, April 9 (NationPress) A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been initiated in the Supreme Court, demanding immediate actions to safeguard judicial officers, government personnel, and citizens from alleged politically driven violence and intimidation in the upcoming elections in West Bengal.

Filed by Satish Kumar Aggarwal, a former Vice President of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, the petition invokes the Supreme Court's authority under Article 32 of the Constitution, highlighting a disturbing history of electoral violence and interference with public officials in the region.

The petition calls for the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to take "all essential measures", including the deployment of sufficient Central security forces, to protect officials and the public, ensuring the elections are conducted in a free, fair, and secure manner. It also requests the state government to uphold law and order during and after the electoral period.

The plea brings attention to past incidents, such as the 2013 rural elections, where reports indicate that 39 individuals lost their lives, and numerous seats were won without contest, allegedly due to intimidation.

The petitioner also mentioned the 2018 Panchayat elections, where around 20 people were reportedly killed and opposition candidates faced threats that hindered their nomination filings. "The persistent political violence in West Bengal signifies a systemic breakdown in ensuring free and fair elections and protecting citizens' fundamental rights," stated the plea.

Recent occurrences were also flagged, including the alleged obstruction faced by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during operations in January of this year in Kolkata and Delhi, along with threats directed at election and government officials in districts like Nadia and Hooghly.

Additionally, an incident during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in April 2026 was cited, where seven judicial officers were reportedly encircled by a mob for several hours, with police and central forces intervening only after significant delay. "This environment has fostered fear and insecurity, diminishing officials' ability to perform their duties without undue pressure," the petition emphasized.

Another example from Hooghly district involved government officers overseeing election compliance who were allegedly threatened, highlighting the need for central forces' deployment.

Characterizing the situation as "serious and concerning", the petitioner argued that such events jeopardize not only public servants but also the democratic framework.

"The inability to protect judicial officers and government personnel undermines the core principles of the rule of law," asserted the plea.

The petitioner contended that the state machinery has failed to effectively address these issues, necessitating intervention from both the Union government and the Supreme Court.

"Conducting elections in an atmosphere of fear, coercion, and violence contradicts the constitutional mandate for free and fair elections," it concluded.

Among the remedies sought, the plea urges the apex court to instruct authorities to ensure appropriate security measures, prevent political interference, and proactively protect both citizens and officials.