A coalition of 21 retired judges, comprising members from each the Supreme Court and varied excessive courts, has penned a letter to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, highlighting mounting efforts to destabilise the judiciary by means of calculated strain, dissemination of misinformation, and public denigration. The retired judges lambasted sure factions for his or her vested pursuits in subverting the judiciary, alleging that these actors are pushed by slim political agendas and private positive factors, aiming to corrode public belief within the judicial system.
Lack of particular incidents
While the letter kept away from citing particular incidents, its issuance coincided with heightened tensions between the ruling BJP and opposition events, notably regarding authorized actions in opposition to some opposition leaders in corruption circumstances.
“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,” they stated within the letter titled “Need to safeguard judiciary from unwarranted pressures”.
Allegations of judicial manipulation
The retired jurists, together with distinguished figures like Justices Deepak Verma, Krishna Murari, Dinesh Maheshwari, and M R Shah, accused the detractors of using insidious strategies to affect judicial processes, thereby impugning the integrity of courts and judges.
Concerns of Judicial independence
Expressing deep apprehension, the retired judges underscored the troubling technique of misinformation and public sentiment manipulation, notably in circumstances of social, financial, and political significance, which jeopardise judicial independence.
“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,” they added.
Call for judicial fortification
Urging strong measures to safeguard the judiciary’s autonomy, the retired judges implored the Supreme Court and the broader authorized fraternity to stay steadfast in opposition to exterior pressures, making certain the integrity and autonomy of the authorized system.
Pillar of democracy
Emphasising the pivotal position of the judiciary in upholding democratic rules, the retired judges emphasised the crucial of judicial resilience in opposition to transient political pursuits, underscoring the judiciary’s very important position as a bulwark of democracy.
“The practice of selectively praising judicial decisions that align with one’s views while vehemently criticising those that do not, undermines the very essence of judicial review and the rule of law,” they stated.
As concerns over judicial independence and autonomy mount, the missive from the retired judges served as a clarion name for vigilance and fortitude in upholding the sanctity of the judiciary amidst evolving socio-political landscapes.
