Over 500 legal practitioners, including renowned lawyer Harish Salve, have raised their voices in an open letter addressed to Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, expressing deep concern over the undue influence of politicians on court proceedings.
The letter comes in the wake of a remark made by former Union Minister and prominent lawyer Kapil Sibal during a recent hearing before a 3-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court. Sibal remarked, “When the history of this court will be written, this will not be a golden period,” referring to ongoing proceedings related to the arrest of BRS leader K Kavitha, daughter of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, in Hyderabad.
More than 500 prominent lawyers, including Harish Salve, write to CJI DY Chandradchud expressing concern over attempts to undermine the judiciary’s integrity.
The letter reads "as people who work to uphold the law, we think it's time to stand up for our courts. We need to come… pic.twitter.com/iXIIDbgToP
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2024
In their letter titled ‘Protecting the Judiciary from Political and Professional Influence,’ the lawyers highlighted the insidious attempts by certain “vested interest groups” to exert pressure on the judiciary, manipulate legal processes, and undermine the integrity of the courts. They emphasized that these actions are based on weak reasoning and outdated political agendas.
The letter underscores the importance of maintaining an atmosphere of trust and cooperation within the judiciary, which is being compromised by the actions of this interest group. It accuses them of creating false narratives about a supposed ‘better past’ and ‘golden period of the courts’ to sway judicial decisions and gain political mileage.
Furthermore, the letter sheds light on the troubling trend of some lawyers defending politicians by day and attempting to influence judges through the media at night. It condemns such tactics as detrimental to the impartiality and credibility of the judiciary.
The lawyers’ concerns are particularly focused on political cases, especially those involving corruption allegations against political figures. They argue that the pressure tactics employed in these cases pose a significant threat to the courts and undermine the integrity of the democratic system.
In conclusion, the letter serves as a rallying cry for upholding the principles of justice, independence, and integrity within the judiciary. It calls for collective action to safeguard the courts from undue political interference and ensure that justice is served impartially and without prejudice.
Comments