Senior Lawyers Write To CJI Against Allegations of 'Bench Fixing,' 'Pressure Tactics' In Political Cases

Over 600 lawyers have written a letter to the Chief Justice Of India raising serious concerns against the actions of a "specific interest group" aiming to undermine the judiciary

The letter to CJI by senior members of the bar has requested the Supreme Court to take protective measures against these attacks

Source : PTI

Over 600 lawyers, including prominent senior advocates have written a letter to the Chief Justice Of India (CJI) raising serious concerns against the actions of a "specific interest group" aiming to undermine the judiciary’s integrity. According to the letter, the said "interest group has concocted an entire theory of 'bench fixing.' This they claim is not just disrespectful and contemptuous but also an attack on the honour and dignity of our courts.

 

"Their antics are vitiating the atmosphere of trust and harmony, which characterises the functioning of the judiciary. Their pressure tactics are most obvious in political cases, particularly those involving political figures accused of corruption.These tactics are damaging
to our courts and threaten our democratic fabric," the letter read.

 

It further states that this "heated interest group" operates in various ways.

 

They create false narratives of a supposed 'better past' and 'golden period' of the courts, contrasting it with the happenings in the present. These are nothing but intentional statements, made to sway court decisions and to embarrass the court's for certain political gains. It's troubling to see some lawyers defend politicians by the day, and then try to influence judges through the media at night. Implying that the courts in the past were easier to influence shakes the public's trust in them."

"There is a clear 'my way or the highway' approach at work - any decision they agree with is hailed but any decision they disagree with is trashed, smeared and disregarded."

 

According to these lawyers, a specific interest group is employing pressure tactics to influence judicial outcomes, particularly in cases involving political figures and corruption allegations. These actions, they argue, pose a significant threat to the democratic fabric and the trust placed in judicial processes.

 

"At times, it also leads to slanderous attacks and insinuations on respected judges. They have also stooped to the level of comparing our courts to those countries where there is no rule of law and accusing our judicial institutions with unfair practices. These aren't just criticisms; they are direct attacks meant to damage the public's trust in our judiciary and threaten the fair application of our laws."

 

The lawyers highlighted methods adopted by these "interest groups" and claimed that they are propagating false narratives about a so-called ‘golden era’ of the judiciary, aimed at discrediting current proceedings and undermining public confidence in the courts. 

 

They have alleged that some vested interest groups are trying to influence the judiciary and defame the courts, particularly in politically sensitive cases involving corruption. This they are doing by allegedly creating false narratives about the judiciary’s past to undermine current court proceedings and public trust.

 

The letter by senior members of the bar has requested the Supreme Court to take protective measures against these attacks to maintain the judiciary’s integrity. The letter calls for a united stand in support of the judiciary to ensure it remains a strong pillar of democracy, urging decisive leadership in addressing these challenges.

 

Senior Advocates Harish Salve, Manan Kumar Mishra, Adish Agarwala, Chetan Mittal, Pinky Anand, Hitesh Jain, Ujjwala Pawar, Uday Holla, Swaroopama Chaturvedi are some of the prominent names on the letter.