By – Prakarsh Kastwar
The lawyers said that a vested interest group is attempting to push the judiciary, influence judicial proceedings, and slander the courts using ridiculous logic.
More than 600 attorneys from across India, including prominent advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, have written to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud to voice their worry about what they see as a danger to the judiciary’s credibility. The lawyers blasted the “vested interest group” for attempting to control judicial processes, influence court judgments, and destroy the judiciary’s reputation through false claims and political goals.
The letter claims that attempts to influence court rulings and undermine the judiciary are most pronounced in instances involving political people who are suspected of corruption. In certain cases, these approaches are very clear.
One of the worrying techniques outlined in the letter is the alleged manufacture of misleading narratives to depict a distorted perspective of the judiciary’s functioning, including analogies to a putative ‘golden age’ of the courts. Such tales, the lawyers claimed, are intended to influence judicial outcomes and undermine public trust in the system.
The letter expressed concern about the “concocted theory of bench fixing,” which involves attempting to alter the composition of judicial benches and casting doubt on judges’ honesty. The lawyers condemned these actions as not only insulting, but also harmful to the rule of law and the values of justice.
The letter continued, “They have also gone so far as to compare our courts to those nations where the rule of law does not exist and to accuse our judicial institutions of unfair practices.”
It went on, “These aren’t just critiques; they are outright assaults designed to erode public confidence in our legal system and jeopardize the impartial administration of our laws.”
They voiced concern about the phenomenon of political flip-flopping, in which politicians change their positions on legal issues based on their personal interests, eroding the legal system’s legitimacy.
“It’s strange to witness politicians accuse others of wrongdoing and then defend them in court. If the court’s ruling does not go in their favor, they swiftly criticize the courts both inside and outside the courtroom. “This two-faced behavior is detrimental to the respect a common man should have for our legal system,” the lawyers charged.
Additionally, they asserted that “some elements are trying to spread lies on social media and influence the judges in their cases in order to put pressure on the judges to decide in a particular way.”
“A closer examination of their timing is warranted because they employ a very clever tactic right before national elections. Similar antics in 2018–2019, when they began participating in “hit and run” operations like creating false narratives, come to mind.
The attorneys urged the Supreme Court to act decisively in order to defend the rule of law and shield the court from outside pressures.
“Those who wish to harm others may unintentionally gain more power if we remain silent or do nothing. Since these initiatives have been occurring too regularly over the past few years, now is not the time to maintain a respectful quiet, they stated.