As national legislative elections approach, more than 600 lawyers including senior advocates Harish Salve and Pinky Anand have penned a letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. They express concern over a specific group actively undermining the judiciary in the country.
The letter accuses this group of exerting pressure to sway court decisions, especially in matters involving politicians or allegations of corruption. It goes on to assert that such activities pose a threat to the democratic fabric and the public's trust in the judicial process.
Among those who wrote to the CJI are esteemed legal professionals such as Harish Salve, Manan Kumar Mishra, Adish Aggarawal, Chetan Mittal, Pinky Anand, Hitesh Jain, Ujjwala Pawar, Uday Holla, and Swaroopama Chaturvedi.
What concerns do the lawyers highlight?
The letter outlines various tactics by which this particular group attempts to influence the operations of the judiciary, from crafting false narratives about the so-called 'golden era' of the judiciary to questioning current proceedings and eroding public confidence in the courts.
The group is accused of judging court rulings based on their political agenda, essentially adhering to a 'my way or the highway' approach and concocting theories of bench fixing. The lawyers find it peculiar that politicians would accuse others of corruption only to defend them in court, and then criticize the court if the decisions don't align with their expectations.
The letter highlights efforts to pressure judges or seek favorable verdicts in select cases through spreading misinformation on social media, for personal or political motives. Such attempts are considered unacceptable under any circumstances.
Lawyers implore CJI for action
The group's activities become particularly pronounced during the election season, as was observed during the 2019 legislative elections. The attorneys urge the Supreme Court to take resolute action to shield our courts from such attacks.
In a show of unity for the judiciary, the letter calls for collective support to ensure that the judiciary remains a strong pillar of democracy.
