Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: A group of 21 retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts has expressed concern over attempts by certain factions to undermine the judiciary through calculated pressure, misinformation, and public disparagement.
“It is imperative that the judiciary remains a pillar of democracy, immune to the whims and fancies of transient political interests,” they said.
In a two-page letter to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on April 14, they urged judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, to fortify against such pressures and ensure that the sanctity and autonomy of the legal system are preserved.
Prominent among those who signed the letter included Justices Deepak Verma, Krishna Murari, Dinesh Maheshwari and MR Shah.
Eroding people’s trust
The former judges said, “It has come to our notice that these elements, motivated by narrow political interests and personal gains, are striving to erode the public’s confidence in our judicial system.”
“Their methods are manifold and insidious, with clear attempts to sway judicial processes by casting aspersions on the integrity of our courts and the judges. Such actions not only disrespect the sanctity of our judiciary but also pose a direct challenge to the principles of fairness and impartiality that Judges, as guardians of the law, have sworn to uphold,” their letter stated.
Troubling strategy
It claimed the strategy employed by these groups is deeply troubling – ranging from the propagation of baseless theories intended to malign the judiciary’s reputation to engaging in overt and covert attempts to influence judicial outcomes to their favour.
“This behaviour, we observe, is particularly pronounced in the cases and causes of social, economic and political significance, including the cases involving certain individuals, wherein the lines between advocacy and manoeuvring are blurred to the detriment of judicial independence,” it said. “We anticipate your resolute guidance and leadership in these challenging times, safeguarding the judiciary as a pillar of justice and equity,” they said.
