15 Apr. 24
A group of 21 retired judges from the Supreme Court and high courts have written to the Chief Justice of India, expressing concerns about efforts to weaken the judiciary through calculated pressure, misinformation, and public criticism motivated by narrow political interests and personal gains.
The retired judges, including four from the Supreme Court, did not specify the specific incidents prompting their letter, but it coincided with heated exchanges between the ruling BJP and opposition parties regarding actions taken against certain opposition figures in corruption cases.
Amid leaders seeking legal remedies, the BJP has accused them of cherry-picking judicial decisions to suit their narrative, highlighting instances where relief was denied to arrested leaders to counter opposition criticisms.
The retired judges, such as Deepak Verma, Krishna Murari, Dinesh Maheshwari, and M R Shah, accused critics of employing underhanded methods to influence judicial proceedings by questioning the integrity of courts and judges.
They emphasized the need to safeguard the judiciary from unwarranted pressures that disrespect judicial sanctity and challenge the fairness and impartiality judges are duty-bound to uphold.
The tactics employed by these groups range from spreading unfounded theories to tarnish the judiciary’s image to overtly and covertly trying to sway judicial outcomes in their favor, particularly in cases of social, economic, and political significance.
The retired judges are particularly alarmed by misinformation tactics and attempts to manipulate public sentiment against the judiciary, advocating for the preservation of judicial independence and the rule of law.
They called on the judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, to resist such pressures and ensure the sanctity and autonomy of the legal system remain intact, emphasizing the importance of an independent judiciary as a cornerstone of democracy.
