'Campaign driven by political interests': 43 ex-judges back CEC in open letter
Forty-two former judges have signed an open letter defending Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar against what they describe as a politically motivated smear campaign. The veterans criticized opposition parties and activist groups for questioning the integrity of the electoral system without providing evidence.
Why it matters
This reflects the ongoing tension between India's judicial/electoral institutions and political opposition regarding the credibility of democratic processes.
NEW DELHI: A total of 42 former judges on Thursday expressed deep concern over protests targeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying he had been labelled a "puppet", "thief" and "compromised" in what they described as a "calculated campaign driven by vested political interests".In an open letter, the veterans took strong exception to officers, who conduct the elections, being called names and shamed with "warning of reprisal once power changes hands"."This appears to be a calculated campaign driven by vested political interests, with little regard for the potentially devastating consequences of destabilising the world’s largest democracy," the 42 veterans said."Activist outfits with a long record of selective litigation lend these claims a veneer of legality. They file petition, one after the other.
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