New Delhi: An international lawyers’ body has written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind raising concerns over the “hasty decision” of the government to transfer Justice S Muralidhar from the Delhi High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Justice Muralidhar was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the night of February 26, a day after he had pulled up Delhi Police for failing to register FIRs against three BJP leaders for allegedly giving hate speeches ahead of the communal riots in northeast Delhi.
“The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has issued an open letter to President Ram Nath Kovind of India, urging him to take action against the hasty decision made in February 2020 to transfer Justice S Muralidhar from the Delhi High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” said the letter signed by office bearers of the bar body.
“This unusually prompt transfer at a time of alarming social unrest raises concerns of potential undermining of the independence of the judiciary in India. The right of the judiciary to hold the government to account is fundamental to the rule of law, and there should be no reprimand for a judge using his independent voice,” the release said.
The IBAHRI is an organisation of lawyers working to promote and protect human rights and the independence of the legal profession worldwide, it said.
Also read: Justice Muralidhar is 2nd senior-most in Punjab & Haryana HC but gets only tax matters
It is not a question of whether “what right do they have to dictate India etc”, but seen in the global context, it is a shift away from generally positive views before. India was viewed favorably because it is a democracy and had a pluralistic disposition. Therefore, it is much more concerning when there is a regression of those values compared to a country that was regressive to begin with.
This should be seen in the larger global context. It is not the question, “who are they to tell India” or “what about when..”, it is rather a shifting of global opinion that was very positive just a few years ago. There is no permanence – a good reputation turning poor is worse than a misgoverned country which remains that way.
The more international institutes expose themselves to help Indian liberal Jamaat to put the govt on mat, more they expose themselves of how the ecosystem is built. The easier it will make the govt to track them and expose who start,manage and execute these. When was the last time they died the same for Pakistan when lawyers and jugdes were hounded by the army. Not that iam comparing India to Pakistan, but comparing their actions India and other countries.
Tom and Dick give a rats ass for international opinion unless it is favorable. LS speaker in India has said the PM is a God’s gift!
‘The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has issued an open letter to President Ram Nath Kovind of India, urging him to take action against the hasty decision…’ Are you joking? This gentleman(president) signed this and you are asking him to take action?! Will he take action against himself…!
Vasudhaiv-Kutumbakam in true sense!