Need to safeguard judiciary from unwarranted pressures: 21 ex-judges write letter to CJI

NEW DELHI: As many as 21 former judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court have written a letter to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, voicing serious concerns on escalating attempts by certain factions to undermine the judiciary through calculated pressure, misinformation, and public disparagement.

"It has come to our notice that these elements, motivated by narrow political interests and personal gains, are striving to erode the public’s confidence in our judicial system. Their methods are manifold and insidious, with clear attempts to sway judicial processes by casting aspersions on the integrity of our courts and the 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 said.

Prominent among those who signed the letter are Justices Deepak Verma, Krishna Murari, Dinesh Maheshwari, and M R Shah.

They questioned the strategy employed by the vested groups as deeply troubling; ranging from the propagation of baseless theories intended to malign the judiciary’s reputation to engaging in overt and covert attempts to influence judicial outcomes to their favour.

"We are particularly concerned about the tactics of misinformation and the orchestration of public sentiment against the judiciary, which are not only unethical but also detrimental to the foundational principles of our democracy," their letter said.

The letter pointed out that 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.

Their letter urged the judiciary, led by the CJI, to fortify against such pressures and to ensure that the sanctity and autonomy of our legal system are preserved.

"It is imperative that the judiciary remains a pillar of democracy, immune to the whims and fancies of transient political interests. We stand in solidarity with the judiciary and are prepared to support in any manner necessary to uphold the dignity, integrity, and impartiality of our judiciary," the letter stated.