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Synopsis

"To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday as he reposted a post on X from Lawbeat. 

The post referred to a letter by around 600 lawyers to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud expressing concern over attempts to undermine the judiciary’s integrity.

PM Modi, in his repost wrote:

"5 decades ago itself they had called for a "committed judiciary" - they shamelessly want commitment from others for their selfish interests but desist from any commitment towards the nation. No wonder 140 crore Indians are rejecting them."

As per the letter, the pressure tactics of this group 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...", CJI has been told.

The letter alleged that false narratives of a supposed ‘better past’ and 'golden period of the courts, contrasting it with the happenings in the present are being created.

"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 stated.

On a theory of ‘bench fixing’ being concocted, the letter stated that this leads to slanderous attacks and insinuations on respected judges.

Calling for closer scrutiny of this group's actions, the CJI has been told that they (vested interest group) do it at very strategic timings, when the nation is all set to head into elections.

"We request the Supreme Court to stand strong and take steps to protect our courts from these attacks. Staying silent or doing nothing could accidentally give more power to those who mean to do harm. This is not the time to maintain dignified silence as such efforts are happening since few years and too frequently....Sir, in these tough times, your leadership is crucial. We trust you and all Hon'ble Judges to guide us through these issues and keep our courts strong...", the lawyers urged the CJI through the letter.