New Delhi, October 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Forty-two former judges, including former Supreme Court and High Court judges, have expressed concern over what they described as a sustained campaign to undermine the Election Commission of India (ECI), judiciary and other constitutional institutions amid the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a strongly worded open letter, the signatories questioned allegations of “vote theft” made without supporting evidence and warned that repeatedly describing constitutional authorities as “thieves” or “compromised” could erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
“Criticism of institutions is a democratic right. Denigration is not,” the letter said. It was signed by former Supreme Court judges Hemant Gupta and Pankaj Mittal, among others.
Defending SIR, the former judges said the exercise is legally established and aimed at ensuring clean and accurate electoral rolls.
“Trust is the currency of democracy,” the letter said, while cautioning that efforts to delegitimise elections could fuel unrest and embolden anarchic elements.
The signatories include three former High Court Chief Justices — former Chief Justice of the J&K and Delhi High Court B.C. Patel, former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, and former Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court Permod Kohli.
Other signatories include former judges of various High Courts as well as former members of statutory bodies and regulators.
The letter came amid a political confrontation between the Opposition and the ruling BJP over the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin criticised Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the protests, saying the Opposition should resign from seats won in elections conducted by the ECI if it had doubts about the electoral process.
Nabin made the remarks after Rahul Gandhi led another protest towards Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. Rahul Gandhi, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition MPs were detained by Delhi Police after their bus was stopped near Janpath as INDIA bloc MPs sought to protest against Gyanesh Kumar.
Nabin described the protesters as having an “anarchist mindset” and alleged that they were trying to create divisions in society.
He also cited elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to question the Opposition’s criticism of the ECI, and alleged that Rahul Gandhi was “shielding infiltrators”.
Nabin said the government was seeking to restore the rights of people whom it considers entitled to the country’s resources.
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