Tue Nov 05 01:30:26 UTC 2024: ## Chief Justice Chandrachud Warns of Pressure Groups Targeting Judiciary

**New Delhi:** Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has cautioned against pressure groups attempting to influence judicial decisions through social media and other electronic platforms. Speaking at an event organized by the Indian Express group, he emphasized that judicial independence does not solely mean delivering verdicts against the government.

“Our society has changed, particularly with the advent of social media. You see interest groups, pressure groups, and groups trying to use electronic media to put pressure on the courts to get favorable decisions,” said the Chief Justice, who is set to retire on November 10.

He pointed out that these groups often label judges “independent” only when their rulings favor them. “If you do not decide in my favor, you are not independent,” he said, adding, “To be independent, a judge must have the independence to decide what their conscience tells them, of course, the conscience which is guided by the law and the Constitution.”

Justice Chandrachud highlighted how he was termed “independent” when he ruled against the government in the electoral bonds case, but the same label was withheld when his rulings were favorable to the government. “That is not my definition of independence,” he asserted, emphasizing the need for judges to be given the freedom to decide cases based on their conscience and the law.

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