New Delhi, October 8 (TNA) Forty-two former judges and retired constitutional office-holders have issued an open letter warning against what they described as attempts to undermine the Election Commission of India and other constitutional institutions amid Opposition protests over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The signatories said the ongoing campaign of allegations against the poll body could damage public trust in democratic institutions.
In the letter, dated October 7 and titled An Open Letter to the People of India: In Defence of Our Constitutional Institutions, the former judges said repeated claims of “vote theft” and criticism of the Election Commission were being made without supporting evidence. They also defended the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, saying it is a legally established exercise meant to ensure clean and accurate voter lists.
The letter said constitutional bodies, including the higher judiciary and statutory agencies, were under sustained attack, and warned that branding institutions as “thieves” or “compromised” could erode confidence in democracy. Among the signatories are former Supreme Court judges Hemant Gupta and Pankaj Mittal, along with former High Court chief justices.
The development comes as Opposition parties continue their protests and demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the voter-roll revision exercise and alleged electoral irregularities.