The Supreme Court of India criticized the West Bengal administration for the gherao of judicial officers in Malda, calling it a preplanned and motivated act intended to disrupt the electoral process. Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that the incident was a blatant attempt to undermine the authority of the judiciary and demoralize officers tasked with overseeing elections. The Chief Justice detailed that the gherao commenced around 3:30 PM, yet there was no administrative action until 8:30 PM, despite notifications sent to authorities. Even after assurances of action, senior officials, including the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, failed to respond promptly, necessitating personal intervention from the Chief Justice to contact the Director General of Police and the Home Secretary. This incident raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the responsiveness of the state's administrative machinery.