600 lawyers of the country including Harish Salve wrote a letter to the CJI, saying – attempts are being made to influence the judiciary
600 lawyers from across the country, including senior advocate Harish Salve, have written a letter to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud expressing concern over raising questions on the judiciary. Senior advocates Harish Salve, Manan Kumar Mishra, Adish Aggarwal, Chetan Mittal, Pinky Anand, Hitesh Jain, Ujjwala Pawar, Uday Holla, Swaroopama Chaturvedi and more than 600 lawyers from across India who have written the letter. This letter has been written expressing serious concern against the actions of a special interest group aimed at undermining the integrity of the judiciary.
According to lawyers, the group is adopting pressure tactics to influence judicial decisions, especially in cases involving political figures and allegations of corruption. They argue that these actions pose a significant threat to the trust placed in democratic structures and judicial processes. Let us tell you that last Wednesday, the lawyer wing of Aam Aadmi Party had threatened to protest against the arrest of Kejriwal. However, after the warning of the High Court, the decision to protest was cancelled.
In the letter, the lawyers highlighted several concerning practices, including the propagation of false stories about the so-called ‘golden age’ of the judiciary, aimed at discrediting current proceedings and undermining public confidence in the courts.
Know what allegations were made in the letter
• Expresses concern over attempts by a selfish group of lawyers to influence the judiciary and discredit the courts, especially in politically sensitive cases involving corruption.
• Interest groups are accused of creating false narratives about current court proceedings and the judiciary’s past to undermine public trust.
• Allegations include ‘bench fixing’, disparaging comparisons of domestic courts with those ruled by lawlessness and a direct attack on the dignity of judges.
• The strategy adopted by interest groups includes selective criticism or praise of court decisions based on their political agenda, described as a “my way or the highway” approach.
Concerns have been raised about the following:
• Political flip-flopping, where politicians alternate between accusing individuals of corruption and defending them in court.
• Use of underhanded tactics and dissemination of false information to influence judicial appointments and outcomes.
• Advocates note the strategic timing of these tactics around the election period, which parallels similar activities in 2018–2019.
• Senior members of the Bar have requested the Supreme Court to take protective measures against these attacks to maintain the integrity of the judiciary.
• The letter calls for a united stance in support of the judiciary to ensure that it remains a strong pillar of democracy, and urges decisive leadership to address these challenges.
