In a truly unprecedented move today, the 4 senior most judges of the Supreme Court, after the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, held a press conference, to let the nation know of “their failed efforts” to convince the Chief Justice to take steps to protect the institution. The four judges are Justices J Chelameswar, Madan B Lokur, Ranjan Gogoi and Kurian Joseph.
When asked about whether or not this press conference should have been held, senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, Aryaman Sundaram said that it is easy to sit in judgement and say whether the press conference should or should not have been called, but what is important is that 4 very senior judges of the Supreme Court have expressed a great deal of anguish and they have expressed anguish regarding issues that concern every citizen of India. He said that the Judiciary has an exemplary record and it sad that 4 judges should have to express such anguish that certain matters are not being set right. He said it is the message that should be considered and not the method in which that message was delivered.
When asked on Republic TV, that whether this was like washing dirty linen in public, he said that this should not be looked upon as dirty linen but something that needs to be set right. He said if 4 senior judges have concerns over administration of justice, the concerns need to be addressed and perhaps the CJI should open a line of communication and set things right.
Mr. Aryama Sundaram was also asked about how this issue is being hijacked politically with a specific party running hashtag campaigns on Twitter.
He said that this issue is sensitive and has constitutional importance and political parties should stay away from this issue. He said we as a country believe and balance and separation of power and if the Judiciary has issues that need to resolved, the Judiciary should be allowed to do so without the issue being politicised.
When journalist Arnab Goswami asked about hashtag campaign, he was referring to the campaign that has been started by the Congress party on Social Media. The party, from its official account and party functionaries have been trending #DemocracyInDanger. Party functionaries were seen saying every institution in this country is being compromised, presumably insinuating that Modi government should be answerable.
We are very concerned to hear 4 judges of the Supreme Court expressed concerns about the functioning of the Supreme Court. #DemocracyInDanger
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 12, 2018
When 4 senior SC judges in an unprecedented manner hold a presser, to inform the nation that democracy in the country might not survive, it’s time for people to understand the extent to which the ruling dispensation is muzzling the judiciary. #DemocracyInDanger
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) January 12, 2018
What’s happening in India? This is a crisis situation. We need to save our democracy. The current dispensation seems hell bent on taking it towards a dictatorship. #DemocracyInDanger
— Hasiba (@HasibaAmin) January 12, 2018
Every institution in our country being compromised. RBI, UGC, Universities, ECI, MCI and now Supreme Court. We need to save our country. This is not small. #DemocracyInDanger
— Hasiba (@HasibaAmin) January 12, 2018
One can only hope that Congress will pay heed to Senior Lawyer Aryama Sundaram’s sound advice and not politicise an issue that is of grave concern to every citizen.
