NEW DELHI — A collective of 42 retired judges, including former Supreme Court justices and High Court Chief Justices, has issued a strongly worded open letter raising alarms over what they describe as a “sustained campaign” aimed at delegitimizing India’s core constitutional bodies, specifically the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the higher judiciary.
The signatories, which include former Supreme Court judges Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Pankaj Mittal, warned that unverified allegations of “vote theft” and political narratives branding statutory authorities as “compromised” risk eroding public faith in democratic processes. The letter cautions that when the “ballot loses meaning, the street gains it,” creating a void easily exploited by domestic and foreign fringe elements.
Key highlights from the open letter include:
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Defense of Electoral Revision: The signatories defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a legally established exercise necessary to ensure accurate and clean voter lists.
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Critique of Allegation Mechanics: The letter noted that allegations of “vote theft” are frequently raised in press conferences rather than substantiated with sworn declarations in court, pointing out the contradiction of questioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) only in defeat.
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Targeting Selective Litigation: The statement criticized activist outfits for engaging in “selective litigation,” arguing that repeated petitions without proof turn courtrooms into political stages and weaken public confidence in the judicial system.
The open letter comes amid heightened political friction and mounting scrutiny over the ECI’s voter list revision. Opposition parties, including the Congress and the INDIA bloc, have launched street protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while contrasting views have emerged from legal luminaries—including former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and sitting Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan—who recently expressed serious concerns regarding the disenfranchisement of voters under the ongoing revision process.
