A collective of legal professionals, including notable figures such as Harish Salve and Manan Kumar Mishra, recently addressed a letter to the Chief Justice of India, expressing serious apprehensions about what they perceive as a concerted effort by a certain interest group to exert undue influence on the judiciary and undermine the reputation of the courts. The letter, dated March 26 and directed to CJI DY Chandrachud, highlights concerns over the alleged activities of this group, particularly in cases involving political figures accused of corruption. They argue that these actions pose a threat to the impartiality and integrity of the judicial process.

While the letter refrains from directly naming specific individuals, it accuses a faction of lawyers of engaging in what it describes as a duplicitous role. These lawyers, according to the letter, defend politicians during the day but allegedly attempt to sway judicial decisions through media campaigns during the night. The letter suggests that this group propagates a misleading narrative, portraying a supposed “golden era” of the courts in contrast to the present, with the aim of influencing public opinion and judicial outcomes.

Although the letter does not cite specific legal cases, its timing coincides with a period during which the courts are handling several high-profile corruption cases involving opposition leaders. The lawyers behind the letter express concern that such attempts to exert pressure on the judiciary may erode public trust in the courts. They particularly denounce what they term as the propagation of a “bench-fixing” theory, which they argue undermines the dignity and authority of the courts.

The lawyers also raise suspicions about the timing of these alleged attempts to influence judicial proceedings, especially given the upcoming elections. They assert that remaining silent or inactive in the face of such pressures could inadvertently strengthen the influence of those seeking to undermine the judiciary. Consequently, they call upon the Supreme Court to take decisive action to safeguard the courts from these perceived attacks and uphold their independence. They underscore the critical role of the Chief Justice’s leadership in navigating these challenging circumstances.

In conclusion, the letter from the group of lawyers underscores growing concerns within the legal community about efforts to exert undue influence on the judiciary and tarnish the reputation of the courts. While refraining from specific accusations, the letter highlights broader patterns of behavior that the authors deem detrimental to the integrity of the judicial process. It urges proactive measures by the Supreme Court to counter these alleged threats and uphold the principles of judicial independence and impartiality.