Amid Opposition protests, 42 ex-judges warn against attempts to undermine EC

Amid intensifying Opposition protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, 42 former judges have issued a strongly worded open letter expressing grave concern over what they described as a sustained campaign to undermine the Election Commission, the judiciary and other constitutional institutions. The signatories questioned allegations of “vote theft” made without supporting evidence and warned that repeatedly branding constitutional authorities as "thieves" and "compromised" could erode public trust in democratic institutions."

Criticism of institutions is a democratic right. Denigration is not," the letter stated. The former judges also defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing it as a legally established exercise aimed at ensuring clean and accurate voter lists. They warned that attempts to delegitimise elections could fuel unrest and embolden "anarchic elements", stressing that "trust is the currency of democracy".

The signatories urged political parties to raise their grievances through established legal and constitutional mechanisms, saying electoral disputes should be addressed through due process rather than by casting doubt on constitutional institutions and electoral processes.- Ends