A group of retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts have written to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud to “express their shared concern” regarding the escalating attempts by “certain factions to undermine the judiciary through calculated pressure, misinformation, and public disparagement”. Among the 21 signatories are former Supreme Court Justices Deepak Verma, Krishna Murari, Dinesh Maheshwari, and M R Shah, and former High Court judges Permod Kohli, S M Soni, Ambadas Joshi, and S N Dhingra. In the letter dated April 14, the ex-judges said it had come to their 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,” said the former judges. “The strategy employed by these groups is 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,” they added. “This behaviour.is particularly pronounced in the cases and causes of social, economic and political significance, including the cases involving certain individuals, wherein the lines between advocacy and manoeuvring are blurred to the detriment of judicial independence”. They said, “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. The practice of selectively praising judicial decisions that align with one's views while vehemently criticizing those that do not undermine the very essence of judicial review and the rule of law”. The signatories said, “The judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, to fortify against such pressures and 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… We anticipate your resolute guidance and leadership in these challenging times, safeguarding the judiciary as a pillar of justice and equity,” the former judges added.
