A group of 21 retired judges, comprising members from both the Supreme Court and various high courts, has penned a letter to the Chief Justice of India expressing profound concerns regarding what they perceive as increasing efforts to undermine the credibility and independence of the judiciary. In their communication, the retired justices address the “growing attempts by certain factions to undermine the judiciary through deliberate pressure, dissemination of misinformation, and public denigration,” emphasizing the seriousness of the situation at hand. They assert that these critics are driven by narrow political motives and personal gains, aiming to diminish public trust in the judicial system.
While the retired judges, including four from the Supreme Court, did not specify the specific incidents prompting their letter to the CJI, their correspondence coincides with an ongoing verbal clash between the ruling BJP and opposition parties regarding actions taken against certain opposition leaders in corruption cases. With affected leaders and their parties approaching the courts for relief, the BJP has often accused them of selectively using judicial decisions and highlighted the lack of relief for several arrested leaders to counter criticism from the opposition.
The retired judges, including justices (retired) Deepak Verma, Krishna Murari, Dinesh Maheshwari, and M R Shah, accused the critics of employing insidious methods aimed at influencing judicial processes by questioning the integrity of courts and judges. They assert that such actions not only disrespect the sanctity of the judiciary but also directly challenge the principles of fairness and impartiality that judges, as guardians of the law, are sworn to uphold. The letter, titled “Need to safeguard judiciary from unwarranted pressures,” highlights their concern about the strategies used by these groups, which range from spreading baseless theories to influencing judicial outcomes in their favor.
The retired judges express particular concern about tactics of misinformation and efforts to manipulate public sentiment against the judiciary. They assert that selectively praising judicial decisions that align with one’s views while vehemently criticizing those that do not undermines the essence of judicial review and the rule of law. They call upon the judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, to fortify itself against such pressures and ensure the preservation of the sanctity and autonomy of the legal system. They emphasize the importance of the judiciary remaining a pillar of democracy, immune to the transient interests of politics.
