With the national elections just around the corner, and the political atmosphere at a fever pitch, the stage is set for an electoral showdown. Amidst ongoing candidate declarations and nominations, more than 600 Indian lawyers, including senior advocates Harish Salve and Pinky Anand, have penned a letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. They warn that a particular group is actively undermining the judiciary in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded sharply to this, directly aiming his critique at the Congress party.
Indeed, the latest correspondence from the lawyers to the CJI alleges that a certain faction is exerting pressure to sway judicial decisions – particularly in cases involving political figures or corruption charges. The letter articulates concerns that these activities pose a serious threat to the foundational pillars of India's democracy and the public's trust in its judicial processes.
Source: aajtak
In a social media post following the letter, PM Modi accused Congress of harboring a 'culture of intimidation and scaremongering,' a trait he suggests has been part of their political strategy for over five decades. He chastised the party for seeking 'commitment from others for their self-serving interests while evading any obligation to the nation.' Modi's cutting remark came with a stark reminder that a growing majority of India's 1.4 billion citizens are rejecting Congress's approach.
Source: aajtak
Congress Strikes Back
Congress, not to be outdone, shot back with a response from party leader Jairam Ramesh. Taking to social media, Ramesh called out recent blows the Supreme Court has dealt to the PM, using the electoral bonds scheme as a prime example. He linked the Supreme Court's declaration of the scheme's unconstitutionality to the current government's pattern of fostering fear, blackmail, and threats. He accused Modi of guaranteeing legal immunity for corruption instead of providing legal surety for the minimum support price (MSP) and suggested that Modi's decade-long rule has been characterized by dividing, distorting, distracting, and smearing. '140 crore Indians,' Ramesh stated, 'eagerly await the moment to deliver their powerful retort.'
Serious Charges by Lawyers
The group of lawyers accuse this faction of attempting to influence the judiciary through various tactics, from misrepresenting narratives about the judiciary's golden age to casting doubt on ongoing court proceedings and eroding public trust in the courts.
They assert that this group praises or critiques court decisions based solely on their political agenda, embodying an 'my way or the highway' philosophy, and even fabricate conspiracies related to bench fixing.
Further allegations claim that politicians prima facie challenge corruption only to defend the accused in court, leading to public criticism of the judiciary if verdicts do not meet their expectations.
Lawyers Appeal to CJI
The lawyers highlight that such groups become particularly active during election seasons, as was evident in the 2019 general elections. They urge the Supreme Court to take stern and decisive action to protect the courts from such attacks and to ensure that the judiciary continues to be a robust pillar of democracy.
