Former Judges Defend Election Body Against Attacks

More than 40 former judges from the Supreme Court and High Courts have issued an open letter to defend the Election Commission of India and the judiciary. They warned against a calculated campaign driven by vested political interests that could destabilise the country.

Key Figures

The signatories include former Supreme Court judges Hemant Gupta and Pankaj Mithal. Former High Court Chief Justices B.C. Patel, Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, and Permod Kohli also signed the letter.

Allegations And Courts

The letter points out that groups file legal petitions without proper proof and criticise court judgments when rulings do not favour them. It notes that allegations of vote theft are raised in press conferences instead of courts, and no sworn declarations are filed when the Election Commission asks for them.

Electoral Rolls

The former judges backed the Election Commission's work in revising electoral rolls, noting the process aims to build accurate voter lists and ensure free and fair polls. They urged political parties to use proper legal channels and asked the media to check facts before reporting claims.

Context

Public trust in constitutional bodies like election commissions and courts is vital for a functioning democracy. Debates over voting systems and electoral rolls often spark intense political rivalry during election cycles in large democracies.