New Delhi: Several opposition MPs have petitioned President Droupadi Murmu for fast motion over social media trolling of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud whereas he was deliberating on a case associated to the governor’s position in Maharashtra over the last authorities formation.
In a letter to the President, the Congress Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha termed such on-line trolling a “brazen case of interference with the course of justice” and has known as for fast motion towards the culprits.
Opposition MPs write to President Droupadi Murmu searching for motion towards these supporting and sponsoring on-line trolling of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud who’s listening to the Maharashtra politics case. #CJIDYChandrachud #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/loItTTqyYX
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) March 17, 2023
Tankha was supported by a number of opposition MPs, together with Congress’ Digvijaya Singh, Pramod Tiwari, Shaktisinh Gohil, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Amee Yajnik, Ranjeet Ranjan, Imran Pratapgarhi, Shiv Sena(UBT)’s Priyanka Chaturvedi, AAP’s Raghav Chadha, SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav and Jaya Bachchan.
A duplicate of the grievance has additionally been despatched to the Minister of Law, Minister of IT, and the Police Commissioner of Delhi. In an analogous grievance to the Attorney General of India, Tankha has demanded strict motion towards these accused of trolling.
Urging the president for fast motion towards the troll military defaming the administration of justice and the Chief Justice of India, the grievance mentioned the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court headed by CJI D Y Chandrachud is seized of and listening to an essential Constitutional challenge within the matter of presidency formation and the governor’s position in Maharashtra.
“While the matter is subjudice, the troll military, presumably sympathetic to the curiosity of the ruling celebration in Maharashtra, has launched an offensive towards the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India. The phrases and contents are filthy and deplorable, which has garnered views in lakhs on social media platforms.
“In a matter which is subjudice and in seisin before the Supreme Court, such despicable conduct is only possible if such people enjoy the support of the ruling dispensation. Your excellency and the constitutional and statutory authorities in India are dutybound to protect the dignity and decorum of the Indian judiciary,” the MPs’ letter mentioned.
It cited Justice J S Verma’s comment within the Vineet Narain case: “Be you ever so high, the law is always above you”.
“This also is a brazen case of interference with the course of justice. We expect immediate action not only against the persons indulging in trolling but also against the people behind it, i.e., supporting and sponsoring it. As law-abiding Parliamentarians, we expect immediate action against the culprits,” the MPs mentioned of their petition to the President.
In their grievance to the Attorney General, Tankha mentioned he and different MPs are appalled by the filthy conduct of the troll military presumably sympathetic to the curiosity of the ruling celebration in Maharashtra towards the Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud.
He additionally sought time from him, saying a delegation of Parliamentarians wish to name on him on Monday after courtroom hours to beseech him to “use your position as the Attorney General of India for initiating strong and exemplary action”.
Tankha urged the lawyer normal to hunt a report from the Delhi police commissioner about names and particulars of individuals concerned within the trolls and those supporting and inspiring them.
He additionally sought to challenge instructions to the ministries of IT and legislation to demonstrably guarantee seen motion towards the despicable trollers and their IDs as “what is at stake is the majesty of law, the dignity of the court and the image of our constitutional institutions”.
“On the basis of the information which is sought from the police commissioner and the two ministries, initiate strong and exemplary legal action against the despicable troll leaders and their sympathisers. As the first law officer of the country, it is your beholden duty as the protector of law and the constitution on behalf of the Union of India to take the following prompt and strict actions.”
“We expect action on your part at the earliest in the interest of law and administration of justice,” the grievance mentioned.
The challenge of trolling judges has been raised a number of occasions within the prime courtroom with former CJIs additionally expressing concern over the problem.
Earlier this month, CJI Chandrachud highlighted the issue of rolling in an age “when people are short on their patience and tolerance”.
“Every little thing that we do… In everything that you do, you face the threat of being trolled by someone who doesn’t share your point of view,” the CJI mentioned at an occasion just lately. The Supreme Court has cited the problem of trolling a number of occasions and had favoured regulation on it in 2017.
Speaking at an occasion in November on Constitution Day in 2021, former Chief Justice of India N V Ramana expressed concern over “increased attacks on the judiciary in the media, particularly social media” and mentioned they seem like “sponsored….Motivated and targeted”.
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has additionally mentioned that CJI Ramana had additionally written to him requesting a legislation to curb social media criticism of judges. However, Rijiju mentioned it was not possible to limit criticism of judges via laws.
