A coalition of 42 former judges, including retired Supreme Court and High Court justices, expressed serious concerns about ongoing efforts to undermine the Election Commission of India (ECI) and other key constitutional institutions. In a letter released on Thursday, the group warned that unsubstantiated claims of “vote theft” and accusations labeling these institutions as “thieves” and “compromised” pose a threat to public confidence in democratic processes.
The letter, endorsed by prominent former Supreme Court judges Hemant Gupta and Pankaj Mittal, underscored the importance of distinguishing between legitimate criticism and unwarranted denigration. “Criticism of institutions is a democratic right. Denigration is not,” the statement said, emphasizing that the integrity of democratic governance depends on sustained trust in electoral bodies.
The former judges defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the ECI, describing it as a statutory and essential exercise aimed at ensuring electoral lists remain accurate and free from errors. They warned that attempts to delegitimize election outcomes could incite unrest and empower anarchic elements seeking to destabilize democratic institutions.
Among the signatories were three former High Court Chief Justices: B.C. Patel, who served as Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi High Courts; Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court; and Premod Kohli, former Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court. The letter also included former judges of various High Courts, as well as members from statutory bodies and regulatory authorities.
The release of the letter coincided with heightened political tensions in New Delhi. On the same day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin sharply criticized Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, in response to protests targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Nabin challenged the Opposition’s legitimacy by urging its members to resign from parliamentary seats they had secured through elections conducted by the Election Commission if they truly questioned its credibility.
The protests, led by Rahul Gandhi along with Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition MPs, took place near Jantar Mantar earlier in the week. The group was detained by Delhi Police after their bus was stopped near Janpath, underscoring the escalating political dispute surrounding electoral integrity and the role of constitutional bodies.