A serious situation has emerged in Cooch Behar district, where two judicial officers, including a woman judge, received letters that have raised deep concern within the legal system. These letters were sent using the official letterhead of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) district president, making the issue even more sensitive and alarming. The development quickly drew the attention of the Calcutta High Court, which stepped in without delay.

According to available reports, the letters were connected to the judges’ responsibilities involving the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This process is currently underway to verify and update voter lists in preparation for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The revision work is considered crucial for ensuring fair and accurate elections, and any interference in such duties is treated with utmost seriousness.

The letters reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with how certain names were being handled in the supplementary voter list. Concerns were specifically raised about names being added or removed. However, what caused greater alarm was the tone of the communication. It allegedly included an implied threat, warning that the sender would “look at” the judges, a phrase commonly understood in Bengali as a form of intimidation.

Both judicial officers received similar letters individually. These letters were sent by the district Trinamool Congress president, Avijit De Bhowmik. In the communication, he alleged that the judges were removing names from the voter list in large numbers, which he appeared to question.

“The language of the letters was perceived as threatening the judicial officers. The judicial officers handed over the letters to the district judge with a request to look into the matter. The judiciary considered it to be unprecedented,” said a source familiar with the matter who had seen the letters.

Disturbed by the nature of the communication, the two judicial officers escalated the matter. They formally wrote to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Justice Sujoy Pal, explaining the situation and expressing concerns about their safety. Their response reflects the seriousness with which the issue has been viewed within the judicial system.

Acting swiftly, the Chief Justice directed the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal to take immediate and appropriate steps. In addition, the High Court ordered that proper security arrangements be made to ensure the safety of the affected judicial officers. These measures underline the gravity of the situation and the need to protect judicial independence.

It is also important to note that Avijit De Bhowmik is not only the TMC’s district president in Cooch Behar but also the party’s candidate for the Cooch Behar Dakshin (South) Assembly constituency. Following the controversy, he addressed the media and denied issuing any threat. He described the letters as a simple “request” concerning what he called arbitrary inclusion of names in the voter list.

He further stated that if any part of the wording had caused offence, he regretted it. In his own words, “I sincerely apologise for any inaccuracies or errors in wording the letters.”

Despite this clarification, the matter has not been taken lightly. Judicial authorities, along with the Election Commission, are treating the incident with seriousness. Proper action is expected to follow, as the situation touches upon the independence of the judiciary and the integrity of the electoral process.