In a truly unprecedented move today, the 4 senior most judges of the Supreme Court, after the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, held a press conference, to let the nation know of “their failed efforts” to convince the Chief Justice to take steps to protect the institution. The four judges are Justices J Chelameswar, Madan B Lokur, Ranjan Gogoi and Kurian Joseph.
After this explosive press conference, many past justices reacted. While some supported the 4 senior judges and their methods, some like Justice Sodhi were extremely unhappy with the way things have been unfolding.
Justice RS Sodhi on Republic TV said that the judiciary stands demeaned by these 4 people. He said he was ashamed that he was a member of the judiciary. That this can’t be the judicial discipline.
He questioned how the judges could have gone public and question the master of the roster. If they had a difficulty about something, they should have raised their opinion in the court, If they had collegium issues, they should have raised them at the collegium, but how could 4 judges get together in this “trade unionism” fashion and demand that the Chief Justice will have to act on what they say?
He emphatically asked who gave them this right. He said they have demeaned the judiciary not just in front on the entire country, but in front of the entire world. He said the whole world is seeing “these people jumping around in this fashion”. He reiterated that he is ashamed of the manner in which the 4 judges have conducted himself, and he feels sorry for the country.
He said that they have caused so much damage, and since they have made clear that they don’t wish to stick to judicial opinion, all the 4 senior judges should resign and not demean the judiciary further.
While Justice RS Sodhi vehemently disagreed with this method, Justice Mukul Mudgal on the same channel supported the 4 judges.