PM Modi attacks Congress's 'old culture of bullying' judiciary, Karg retorts with 'your sins' | India News

Congress president Mallikarjun Karge He responded to the Prime Minister in a post on X: “You are talking about the judiciary. I conveniently forgot that four of the Supreme Court's most senior justices had to hold an unprecedented press conference and warn against “the destruction of democracy.” It happened under your regime. One of the judges has been nominated by your government to the Rajya Sabha. Who wants a “committed judiciary”?

“You forgot that your party has fielded a former West Bengal SC judge for the current Lok Sabha elections. Why was he given this nomination?”

Karg said one institution after another “is being bullied into submission by you, so stop blaming the Congress party for your sins!” “She has mastered the art of manipulating democracy and damaging the Constitution.”

“The special interest group… is trying to pressure the judiciary, influence the judicial process, and discredit… the courts based on petty logic and outdated political agendas,” the lawyers' letter claimed.

Their antics spoil the atmosphere of trust and harmony that characterizes the work of the judiciary. Their pressure methods are most clearly evident in political cases, especially those related to political figures accused of corruption and “harm our courts and threaten our democratic fabric.”

The letter was signed, among others, by senior human rights advocates Harish Salve, Adesh Agarwala, Manan Kumar Mishra and Pinky Anand.

“This heated interest group operates in different ways,” she claimed. They create false narratives about the “better past” and the supposed “golden period” of the courts, comparing them to events in the present. “These are nothing but intentional statements, made to influence court decisions and embarrass the courts for certain political gains.”

“It is disturbing to see some lawyers defending politicians by day, and then trying to influence judges through the media at night,” the letter noted, and “suggesting that influencing the courts in the past was easier undermines public confidence in them.” they”.

She claimed that these lawyers “also concocted an entire theory of ‘bench tampering’ – which is not only disrespectful and contemptuous” but “an assault on the honor and dignity of our courts” and “at times, also results in defamatory attacks”. And hints to the esteemed judges.”

Members of the “special interest group… have also stooped to the level of comparing our courts to those countries where the rule of law does not exist and accusing our judicial institutions of unfair practices,” she said. This is not just criticism. They are direct attacks intended to damage public confidence in our judicial system and threaten the fair application of our laws.

“There is a clear 'my way or the highway' approach to business – any decision they agree with is welcomed but any decision they disagree with is ignored, smeared and ignored,” the letter said.

“The timing of their modus operandi also deserves close scrutiny – they are doing so at very strategic timings, when the nation is ready to head to elections” and “we recall similar antics in 2018-19 when they took power,” the letter said. to their “hit and run” activities, including fabricating a false narrative.”

“Such efforts to belittle and manipulate the courts for personal and political reasons cannot be allowed under any circumstances,” the lawyers said, urging 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,” the letter said, adding that “this is not the time to maintain a dignified silence.”

The letter comes days after senior advocate Kapil Sibal told the three-judge Supreme Court bench: “When the history of this court is written, this will not be a golden period.” Sibal said this when the bench, headed by Justice Sanjeev Khanna, refused to grant any relief to his client, BRS leader K Kavitha who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi excise policy case. In response, Justice Khanna said: “Let us see.”

Earlier this year, the ICJ responded to criticism leveled by a section of lawyers over the distribution of cases, telling news agency PTI in an interview: “I am very clear in my mind that if the credibility of the institution of the Supreme Court is to be done so must be the case.” However, we have to ensure that the distribution of cases in the Supreme Court will not be a lawyer-driven distribution. Personalization should be what we do in relation to our processes and systems set out in the Supreme Court. Having said that, I can only say well, you have to trust your decision makers.