“It’s time to stand up for our courts”: 600 Lawyers Write to the Chief Justice to Safeguard India’s Judicial Independence

A coalition of over 600 lawyers has penned a letter to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud with a subject line that reads, “Judiciary Under Threat – Safeguarding the Judiciary from Political and Professional Pressure.” The group which includes senior advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, expressed its apprehension regarding what they perceive as a threat to the judiciary's integrity. The lawyers strongly criticized a group described as a "vested interest group", having selfish motives trying to control legal procedures, sway court rulings, and damage the judiciary's reputation.

The letter highlighted concerns over the alleged fabrication of false narratives aimed at distorting the perception of the judiciary's functioning, particularly in comparison to a purported 'golden age' of the courts. These narratives, the lawyers asserted, are intended to influence judicial outcomes and undermine public trust in the judiciary. “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 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,” reads the letter.

In addition, the letter raised alarm over other issues that the lawyers are “equally worried” about, such as the phenomenon of political flip-flopping, where politicians alter their stance on legal matters depending on their interests, thus undermining the credibility of the legal system. “It is strange to see politicians accuse someone of corruption and then defend them in court. If the court's decision doesn't go their way, they quickly criticize the courts inside the court as well as through the media. This two-faced behavior is harmful to the respect a common man should have for our legal system,” said the coalition of lawyers, expressing their apprehension.

Furthermore, the lawyers expressed dismay over what they described as attempts to influence the composition of judicial benches and cast doubt on the integrity of judges through the theory of "bench fixing." They stated that such actions not only disrespect the judiciary but also pose a threat to the rule of law and principles of justice. ​