The unprecedented action of four Supreme Court judges — Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph – has triggered a big controversy. While a majority of respondents in the social media feel that this is a well-choreographed event to target the Narendra Modi government and BJP, with CPI leader D Raja’s meeting with Justice Chelameswar adding a curious twist to the story, there is a simmering anger among legal eagles regarding the method used to target the Chief Justice of India. Many of them though refused air their opinions openly.
Leading the criticism of the judges is former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee. According to him, this would have severe repercussions on the judiciary. In an interview to a TV channel, Sorabjee said, “I am very upset about this, I wish the four SC judges hadn’t done this. This will have severe repercussions on the judiciary.”
In a scathing attack, former High Court judge RS Sodhi said, “I think all four judges should be impeached, they have no business to sit there and deliver verdicts anymore. This trade unionism is wrong. Democracy in danger is not for them to say, we have parliament, courts, police functioning.”
Justice Sodhi further said, “Issues don’t matter. It is their complaint on administrative matter. They are only 4, there are 23 others. 4 get together and show the Chief Justice in a poor light. It is immature & childish behavior.”
Talking to a TV channel Justice Sodhi said, “This is a big blow to the credibility of judiciary in India. The justice delivery system has received such a blow that at the moment it must be in ICU.”
Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said, “I am totally disappointed by today’s act. The faith of the common man is lost. I agree that their grievances are of serious nature. But this is not the right way to reslove. They should’ve addressed the issues to the President of India.”
Many Supreme Court lawyers told Indus Scrolls that they were upset with the whole episode. A section of the lawyers suspected that the judges were acting on someone else’s behest and might be indulging in shadow boxing. They were unanimous in saying that the action had damaged the reputation and credibility of judiciary.
Tearing up the argument of some Left-oriented lawyer, noted film maker Vivek Agnihotri said, “Does this also imply that the 4 judges were interested in some politically sensitive cases so that they could deliver the desired outcome? So, fundamentally, it’s the politics at the centre of all this.”
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