A collective of 21 retired judges, including those from the Supreme Court and high courts, have penned a letter to the Chief Justice of India expressing their concern over growing attempts by "specific groups to weaken the judiciary through deliberate pressure, misinformation, and public denigration".
The critics, driven by narrow political gains and personal interests, are attempting to diminish public trust in the judicial system, the judges stated. Although the retired judges, four of whom are from the apex court, did not detail the incidents that led them to write to the CJI, their letter comes amidst a verbal dispute between the ruling BJP and opposition parties over actions taken against some opposition leaders in corruption cases.
As the affected leaders and their parties turn to the courts for relief, the BJP has frequently accused them of selectively using judicial decisions and has pointed to the lack of relief for several arrested leaders to counter the opposition's criticism.
The retired judges, including Justices (retired) Deepak Verma, Krishna Murari, Dinesh Maheshwari, and M.R. Shah, accused the critics of employing insidious tactics with clear attempts to influence judicial processes by casting doubts on the integrity of the courts and judges.
"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," they stated in the letter titled "Need to safeguard judiciary from unwarranted pressures".
The tactics employed by these groups are deeply concerning, ranging from the spread of unfounded theories intended to tarnish the judiciary's reputation to overt and covert attempts to sway judicial outcomes in their favor, they said.
"This behavior, we observe, is particularly pronounced in cases and causes of social, economic, and political significance, including cases involving certain individuals, wherein the lines between advocacy and manipulation are blurred to the detriment of judicial independence," they added.
The letter writers expressed particular concern about the tactics of misinformation and the orchestration of public sentiment against the judiciary.
"The practice of selectively praising judicial decisions that align with one's views while vehemently criticizing those that do not undermines the very essence of judicial review and the rule of law," they said.
They called on the judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, to strengthen itself against such pressures and ensure the preservation of the sanctity and autonomy of the legal system.
"It is imperative that the judiciary remains a pillar of democracy, immune to the whims and fancies of transient political interests," they said.
