NEW DELHI: A group of 44 retired judges, including two former Supreme Court judges and several former Chief Justices of High Courts, have issued a joint statement strongly condemning “a motivated campaign” against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant following his remarks in proceedings relating to Rohingya migrants.
The statement said that while judicial proceedings may legitimately invite reasoned criticism, the recent attempts -- including an open letter issued on December 5 -- are an attempt to “delegitimise the judiciary” by mischaracterising routine courtroom queries as an act of prejudice.
“The Chief Justice is being attacked for asking the most basic legal question: who, in law, has granted the status that is being claimed before the Court? No adjudication on rights or entitlements can proceed unless this threshold is addressed, ” the statement added.
The retired judges said that the ongoing campaign “conveniently omits” the CJI Kant-led Bench’s categorical affirmation that no person on Indian soil -- citizen or foreigner -- can be subjected to torture, disappearance or inhuman treatment.