The Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud received a letter of concern from twenty-one former judges over “escalating attempts” by “certain factions” on Sunday that devalued the stand of the Judiciary in India.
The letter by retired judges said that there are elements that are “motivated by narrow political interests and personal gains” and “erode public confidence in the judicial system.” The judiciary system is one of three pillars of a democratic country that is “immune to the whims and fancies of transient political interests,” the letter read.
As per reports, the letter did not mention any particular event of action that prompted them to write to the CJI. However, the letter came amid a war of words between the ruling BJP and opposition parties over corruption cases, PTI reported.
Retired judges including justices (retired) Deepak Verma, Krishna Murari, Dinesh Maheshwari and M R Shah have written, “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,” with the letter titled as, “Need to safeguard judiciary from unwarranted pressures.”
They added that the tactics employed by these groups are deeply concerning, spanning from spreading unfounded theories to tarnish the judiciary’s integrity to engaging in both overt and covert efforts to sway judicial outcomes in their favour.
They noted that this behaviour is particularly evident in cases of social, economic, and political significance, blurring the lines between advocacy and manipulation to the detriment of judicial independence.
The writers of the letter expressed specific concerns about the dissemination of misinformation and orchestrating public sentiment against the judiciary. They highlighted the practice of selectively praising judicial decisions that align with their viewpoints while vehemently criticizing those that do not, which undermines the core principles of judicial review and the rule of law.
Urging the judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, to withstand such pressures, they emphasised the importance of preserving the sanctity and autonomy of the legal system. They stressed that the judiciary must remain a steadfast pillar of democracy, impervious to the transient interests of politics.