'Criticism Of Govt Not Anti-India' : Lawyers Condemn Law Minister Kiren Rijiju's Comment Against Retired Judges

Over 300 lawyers from the Supreme Court and various High Courts have issued a statement condemning the comment of Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju that "some retired judges belong to anti-India gang". The signatories of the statement added that by threatening retired judges, the Law Minister is clearly sending a message to every citizen, that no voice of dissent will be spared. The lawyers' statement can be read here : We, the undersigned lawyers practicing in diverse courts around the nation, deprecate the unwarranted attack launched against retired judges of the Supreme Court of India by Union Law Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju, at a conclave telecast live by a media house. The Hon'ble Minister, in his speech on March 18, 2023 obliquely referred to a “few retired judges”, who till recently occupied high Constitutional offices, as being part of an “anti-India gang.” By bracketing the critics, that too without naming them, as an anti-India gang the Minister has transgressed all limits of constitutional propriety by claiming that the members of this ‘anti-India gang’ wanted to “make the judiciary play the role of the opposition.” He pointedly threatened these retired Supreme Court judges that “no one will escape” and “those who work against the country will pay the price.” By threatening retired judges, the Law Minister is clearly sending a message to every citizen, that no voice of dissent will be spared.