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NATION APRIL 05, 2024 | The Indian Eye 8

TOP JUDICIARY

Pressure on Courts? PM Modi and Congress

jump into row sparked by letter to CJI

A group, according to the lawyers, is employing pressure tactics to influence judicial

outcomes, particularly in cases involving political figures and corruption allegations

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi

n an unprecedented develop-
ment, more than 600 lawyers
Ihave addressed a letter to Chief
Justice of India (CJI) Justice Dhan-
anjaya Y Chandrachud , expressing
serious concerns against the actions
of a specific interest group aiming to
undermine the judiciary’s integrity.
The letter has been signed by prom-
inent lawyers, including Swaroopama
Chaturvedi, Bar Council of India’s
Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra,
and Supreme Court Bar Association
President Adish Aggarwala.
This group, according to the law-
yers, is employing pressure tactics to
influence judicial outcomes, particu-
larly in cases involving political figures
and corruption allegations. These
actions, they argue, pose a significant Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud at an event in Hyderabad on Wednesday (ANI)
threat to the democratic fabric and
the trust placed in judicial processes.
The lawyers highlighted several The lawyers note the strategic their selfish interests but desist from Court declared them to be unconsti-
concerning methods, including the timing of these tactics around election any commitment towards the nation. tutional - and it is now proved beyond
propagation of false narratives about periods, drawing parallels to similar No wonder 140 crore Indians are re- doubt that they were a blatant instru-
a ‘golden era’ of the judiciary, aimed activities in 2018-2019. jecting them,” PM Modi posted on X. ment of fear, blackmail, and intimida-
at discrediting current proceedings Senior members of the bar have But Congress General Secretary tion to force companies to donate to
and undermining public confidence requested the Supreme Court to take Jairam Ramesh on Thursday hit back the BJP,” Ramesh posted on X.
in the courts. The accusations include protective measures against these at- at Prime Minister Narendra Modi “Instead of giving a legal guaran-
‘bench fixing’, disrespectful compar- tacks to maintain the judiciary’s integ- after his criticism of the party over tee to MSP, the Prime Minister has
isons of domestic courts to those in rity. The letter calls for a united stand a lawyers’ letter to the Chief Justice given a legal guarantee to corruption.
lawless regimes, and direct attacks on in support of the judiciary to ensure it of India against a “vested interest All that the Prime Minister has done
judges’ honor. remains a strong pillar of democracy, group,” saying the PM’s brazenness in the last ten years is divide, distort,
The letter accused that the tactics urging decisive leadership in address- in orchestrating an assault on the ju- divert, and defame. 140 crore Indians
employed by the interest group involve ing these challenges. diciary under the guise of defending it are waiting to give him a befitting re-
selective criticism or praise of court de- The development took anoth- is the “height of hypocrisy.” ply very soon,” he added.
cisions based on their political agenda, er dramatic turn as reacting to the Contesting PM Modi’s comment, Congress President Mallikarjun
described as a “My way or the high- concerns raised by over 600 lawyers the Congress leader said that all the Kharge also reacted to PM Modi’s
way” approach. Concerns have also against a “vested interest group,” Prime Minister has done in the last remarks on Judiciary and said that it
been raised about political flip-flop- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ten years is divide, distort, divert, is not proper form for the PM to com-
ping, where politicians alternate be- Thursday took a dig at Congress and and defame. “The PM’s brazenness ment on our judiciary.
tween accusing individuals of cor- said that “to browbeat and bully oth- in orchestrating and coordinating an “Prime Minister Narendra Modi
ruption and defending them in court. ers is vintage Congress culture.” attack on the judiciary, in the name of you are obviously not aware, but it is
The letter further highlighted, the “To browbeat and bully others is defending the judiciary, is the height not proper form for the PM to com-
use of underhanded tactics and the vintage Congress culture. 5 decades of hypocrisy! The Supreme Court has ment on our judiciary. However, as
dissemination of false information to ago itself they had called for a “com- delivered body blows to him in recent you consider India’s institutions to be
influence judicial appointments and mitted judiciary” - they shamelessly weeks. The Electoral Bonds Scheme your personal property I have some
outcomes. want commitment from others for is but one example. The Supreme questions for you,” Kharge stated.

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