Former Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, warned about attempts by pressure groups to influence judicial outcomes, emphasizing the need for judges to stay vigilant. He highlighted the challenges posed by the rapid spread of opinions on social media, which can shape public perception and potentially impact court proceedings. Stressing the independence of the judiciary, he urged a focus on constitutional values over external pressures.
Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud expressed concerns about the increasing influence of social media on judicial decisions during his speech at Samvidhan@75 Conclave.
He warned judges to remain vigilant against efforts by special interest groups to sway court outcomes.
He stated,
“Today, there are pressure groups using social media to affect the minds of the courts and the outcomes of cases. While every citizen has the right to understand court decisions and express their opinions, targeting individual judges raises fundamental questions about the nature of freedom of speech and expression,”
Chandrachud criticized the tendency of people to form opinions based on short social media clips, warning of the potential harm to the judicial process.
He explained,
“Everyone wants to form an opinion in 20 seconds from what they see on YouTube or other platforms. This poses a grave danger because the decision-making process in courts is nuanced and serious, yet social media lacks the patience and tolerance to engage with this complexity,”
When asked about the impact of social media trolling on judges, he emphasized the importance of judicial independence.
He remarked,
“Judges must be cautious as they are subjected to continuous pressure from special interest groups trying to influence court decisions,”
Chandrachud outlined the judiciary’s role in a democracy, asserting that constitutional courts hold the power to assess the validity of laws.
He noted,
“The separation of powers establishes that law-making is the responsibility of the legislature, law enforcement falls to the executive, while the judiciary interprets the law and resolves disputes. When fundamental rights are at stake, courts are obliged to intervene,” .
Defending the collegium system for judicial appointments, he highlighted common misconceptions about its operation.
He clarified, mentioning that seniority is a key factor in the process,
“There is a lot of misunderstanding; the process is nuanced and involves multiple layers. The judiciary does not have an exclusive role in appointing judges,”
Regarding judges entering politics after retirement, Chandrachud stated that while there is no legal prohibition, societal expectations remain.
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He said,
“Society continues to view you as a judge even after retirement. Therefore, actions that may be acceptable for other citizens might not be deemed appropriate for judges post-office,”
Emphasizing the need for former judges to consider how their decisions may affect public perception of their judicial work.
Chandrachud concluded his two-year term as CJI on November 10.
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