In a significant development, over 600 lawyers in India, including senior advocates Harish Salve and Pinky Anand, have come together to express their concerns regarding alleged attempts by a “vested interest group” to exert influence on the judiciary. In a collective letter addressed to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, these legal professionals highlighted their apprehensions about the group’s endeavours to sway judicial decisions, particularly in cases involving political figures and allegations of corruption.
In their letter titled “Threat to Judiciary,” the lawyers emphasized that such actions constitute a substantial threat to democratic principles and erode the faith placed in judicial procedures. They raised concerns about the “interest group” disseminating misleading narratives about an alleged “golden era” of the judiciary, with the apparent intention of discrediting ongoing proceedings and weakening public trust in the judicial system.
The lawyers underscored that the tactics employed by the group include selectively criticizing or lauding court rulings based on their political motives, describing it as a “my way or the highway” approach. They expressed concern over the inconsistency of some lawyers who defend politicians during the day and attempt to influence judges through media channels at night.
Furthermore, the letter pointed out the group’s propagation of a theory of “bench fixing” and lamented over political oscillations. The lawyers found it perplexing to witness politicians accusing individuals of corruption and subsequently defending them in court. They highlighted the swift transition to criticizing the courts, both within courtrooms and through media platforms, when judicial decisions do not align with their expectations.
Emphasizing that these occurrences are unfolding just prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the collective of lawyers accused certain factions of attempting to sway judges and disseminating falsehoods on social media to exert pressure on them to rule in a specific manner in their respective cases.
“These efforts to belittle and manipulate the courts for personal and political reasons cannot be allowed under any circumstances. We request the Supreme Court to stand strong and take steps to protect our courts from these attacks,” the letter further said.
