Maharashtra Politics: Opposition MPs write to President Droupadi Murmu alleging support of ruling party in trolling CJI DY Chandrachud

Senior Advocate and Indian National Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Vivek K Tankha has written to President of India Droupadi Murmu, requesting her to take immediate action against the those engaging in online trolling of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

The letter endorsed by 13 MPs belonging to various opposition parties stated that the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court presided over by CJI Chandrachud is hearing an important constitutional issue in the matter of the government formation in Maharashtra and the role of the Governor in the same.

While the matter is sub-judice, a troll army, presumably sympathetic to the interest of the ruling party in Maharashtra, has launched an offensive against the CJI, the letter said.

"The words and contents are filthy and deplorable, which has garnered views in lakhs on social media platforms," the letter said.

In a matter which is pending before the Supreme Court, such despicable conduct is only possible if such people enjoy the support of the ruling dispensation, the letter added.

"Your excellency and the Constitutional and Statutory authorities in India are dutybound to protect the dignity and decorum of the Indian Judiciary," the letter urged.

The letter stated that such trolling also amounts to brazen interference with the course of justice. The MPs said,

"We expect immediate action not only against the persons indulging in troll, but also against people behind it, i.e., supporting and sponsoring it. As law abiding parliamentarians, we expect immediate action against the culprits, failing which the matter may have to be escalated to higher levels."

Meanwhile, a Bench headed by the CJI had on Thursday reserved its verdict in the Maharashtra politics case.

During the course of the hearing, the CJI had remarked that actions of Maharashtra's ex-Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in calling for a floor test which led to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray government, raised serious concerns regarding the exercise of powers by the Governor.