Know what 600 lawyers told CJI about 'vested interest group' in a 6-page letter

A group of 600 lawyers has written to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud alleging that a “vested interest group” is coercing the judicial system and defaming courts “on the basis of frivolous logic and stale political agendas”.

The letter was signed by high-profile lawyers including senior advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council of India chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, and other legal practitioners across the country.

The unidentified “group” mentioned by the lawyers is being accused of employing pressure tactics to influence judicial outcomes, particularly in cases involving political figures and corruption allegations. Such actions, the lawyers argue, threaten the functioning of the judicial system.

Here are some of the points mentioned in the letter:

• The “group” allegedly creates false narratives about the judiciary’s past to undermine ongoing court proceedings and sabotage public trust in courts

• Lawyers say that this group has been involved in “bench fixing” and making disrespectful comparisons of domestic courts

• The letter says how the group has employed tactics including selective criticism or praise of court decisions based on their political agenda

• The group has also been accused of disseminating false information to influence judicial appointments and outcomes

• The lawyers note the strategic timing of these tactics around election periods, drawing parallels to similar activities in 2018-2019