600 lawyers write to CJI, complain of ‘vested interest group’ trying ‘to pressure judiciary’

600 lawyers write to CJI, complain of ‘vested interest group’ trying ‘to pressure judiciary’

A group of lawyers have written to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud “expressing…deepest concern” about the actions of a “vested interest group” which they alleged “is trying to pressure the judiciary, influence judicial process and defame…courts on the basis of frivolous logic and stale political agendas”.

“Their antics are vitiating the atmosphere of trust and harmony, which characterises the functioning of the judiciary. Their pressure tactics are most obvious in political cases, particularly those involving political figures accused of corruption” and “are damaging to our courts and threaten our democratic fabric”, the letter said.

The signatories, numbering around 600, claimed that “this heated interest group operates in various ways. They create false narratives of a supposed ‘better past’ and ‘golden period’ of the courts, contrasting it with the happenings in the present. These are nothing but intentional statements, made to sway court decisions and to embarrass the courts for certain political gains”.

Pointing out that “it’s troubling to see some lawyers defend politicians by the day, and then try to influence judges through the media at night”, the letter stated that “implying that the courts in the past were easier to influence shakes the public’s trust in them”.

In Opinion | Chipping away at the Bench: The dangers of undermining the judiciary

The letter added that the group “have also concocted an entire theory of ‘bench fixing’ – which is not just disrespectful and contemptuous” but “an attack on the honour and dignity of our courts” and “at times, it also leads to slanderous attacks and insinuations on respected judges”.

The lawyers said that the members of the “vested interest group…have also stooped to the level of comparing our courts to those countries where there is no rule of law and accusing our judicial institutions with unfair practices. These aren’t just criticisms; they are direct attacks meant to damage the public’s trust in our judiciary and threaten the fair application of our laws”.

“There is a clear ‘My way or the highway’ approach at work – any decision they agree with is hailed but any decision they disagree with is trashed, smeared and disregarded,” the letter added.

In Opinion | How to avoid the ‘Cobra Effect’ while incentivising judges to perform better

The signatories said “the timing of their modus operandi also merits closer scrutiny- they do it at very strategic timings, when the nation is all set to head into elections” and added, “We are reminded of similar antics in 2018-2019 when they took to their ‘hit and run’ activities, including fabricating wrong narrative”.

“These efforts to belittle and manipulate the courts for personal and political reasons cannot be allowed under any circumstances,” the lawyers said and urged the Supreme Court “to stand strong and take steps to protect our courts from these attacks”.

“Staying silent or doing nothing could accidentally give more power to those who mean to do harm,” the letter said, adding that “this is not the time to maintain dignified silence as such efforts are happening since few years and too frequently”.

The lawyers said, “As people who work to uphold the law, we think it’s time to stand up for our courts. We need to come together and speak out against these underhanded attacks, making sure our courts stay strong as pillars of our democracy, untouched by these calculated attacks.”

For the latest news from across India, Political updates, Explainers, Sports News, Opinion, Entertainment Updates and more Top News, visit Indian Express. Subscribe to our award-winning Newsletter Download our App here Android & iOS