A collective of 21 retired judges hailing from both the Supreme Court and high courts has penned a letter to the Chief Justice of India, expressing their deep concern over the mounting efforts from certain quarters to undermine the judiciary. They lament the calculated tactics of applying pressure, disseminating misinformation, and publicly disparaging the judicial system.
The retired judges assert that these critics are driven solely by narrow political agendas and personal motives, seeking to diminish public trust in the judiciary. While refraining from explicitly citing specific incidents prompting their letter, the timing coincides with a heated exchange between the ruling BJP and opposition parties regarding actions taken against some opposition figures in corruption cases.
As parties seek legal recourse in response to such actions, the BJP has often accused them of cherry-picking judicial decisions to suit their narrative. The retired judges, including prominent names like Justices Deepak Verma, Krishna Murari, Dinesh Maheshwari, and M R Shah, condemn these critics for their insidious methods aimed at influencing judicial processes and tarnishing the integrity of the courts and judges.
They highlight the disturbing strategy employed by these factions, ranging from spreading unfounded theories to covertly influencing judicial outcomes. The letter underscores the heightened concern regarding cases of social, economic, and political significance, where advocacy blurs into manipulation, undermining judicial independence.
Of particular concern to the retired judges is the propagation of misinformation and the orchestration of public sentiment against the judiciary. They emphasize the danger of selectively praising judicial decisions aligned with one's views while vehemently criticizing those that diverge, which erodes the essence of judicial review and the rule of law.
In urging the judiciary, spearheaded by the Supreme Court, to fortify itself against such pressures, the retired judges stress the importance of preserving the sanctity and autonomy of the legal system. They assert that the judiciary must stand firm as a pillar of democracy, impervious to the transient interests of politics.
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