08 October,2026 05:34 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Defending the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the signatories said it is a legally established exercise aimed at ensuring clean and accurate electoral rolls. Representational Pic
In a strongly worded open letter, 42 former judges, including those who have served as Supreme Court and High Court judges, on Thursday expressed grave concern over what they described as a sustained campaign to undermine the Election Commission of India (ECI), the judiciary and other constitutional institutions.
The signatories questioned allegations of "vote theft" made without supporting evidence, warning that repeatedly branding constitutional authorities as "thieves" and "compromised" could erode public trust in democratic institutions, IANS reported.
"Criticism of institutions is a democratic right. Denigration is not," the letter, signed by former Supreme Court judges Hemant Gupta and Pankaj Mittal, among others, said.
Defending the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the signatories said it is a legally established exercise aimed at ensuring clean and accurate electoral rolls.
"Trust is the currency of democracy," the letter said, cautioning that attempts to delegitimise elections could fuel unrest and embolden "anarchic elements".
The signatories include three former High Court Chief Justices: former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi High Courts BC Patel; former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Subhro Kamal Mukherjee; and former Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court Permod Kohli.
The other signatories include former judges of various High Courts and former members of statutory bodies and regulatory institutions.
Earlier in the day, BJP National President Nitin Nabin criticised Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Nabin said that if the Opposition had the courage to question the Election Commission, its leaders should resign from the seats they won in elections conducted by the ECI.
His remarks came a day after Gandhi led another protest towards Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He, along with his sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition MPs, were detained by the Delhi Police after a bus carrying them was stopped near Janpath as INDIA bloc MPs sought to protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Speaking to reporters, Nabin said, "I would say these are people with an anarchist mindset, who know only how to spread poison in society. After all, this very Election Commission conducted the elections in Kerala."
"It also conducted the elections in Tamil Nadu, where they came to power. If he has the courage, Rahul Gandhi should first resign. The public is fully watching the game he is playing. This Leader of the Opposition is engaged in shielding infiltrators," he added.
"They are trying to take away the rights of the people. We are trying to give them their rights back. I believe that people who belong here have the right to the country's resources," said Nabin.
(With IANS inputs)
