SCBA has condemned alleged threats, intimidation and violence against former Bombay High Court judge Justice Gautam Patel and his family over the Dawoodi Bohra succession ruling, stressing that disagreement with a judgment can never justify threats or violence.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) strongly condemned reports of threats, intimidation, harassment, and violence allegedly directed at former Bombay High Court judge Justice Gautam Patel and his family in connection with a 2024 ruling in the Dawoodi Bohra succession dispute.
In a resolution chaired by Advocate Vikas Singh, the SCBA said that allegations of threats and physical harm inflicted on a member of Justice Patel’s family are deeply disturbing and undermine the basic principles on which the rule of law stands.
The resolution said,
“In a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law, judicial decisions may be challenged only through lawful remedies available under the legal framework. Disagreement with a judgment can never justify threats, violence,”
The SCBA noted that in April 2024, Justice Patel upheld Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s position as the 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq (leader) of the Dawoodi Bohra community, observing that the appointment was valid.
The association further stated that any attempt to threaten, intimidate, or coerce a judge whether currently serving or retired or members of a judge’s family, because of the discharge of judicial duties, amounts to a direct attack on judicial independence and on constitutional values.
It emphasised that judicial outcomes can be contested only through lawful procedures under the legal framework and reiterated that opposing a judgment can never be a basis for threats, violence, harassment, or intimidation.
Highlighting that judicial independence is a basic feature of the Constitution, the SCBA said judges must be able to perform their responsibilities without fear, favour, affection, or bias.
Expressing solidarity with Justice Patel and his family, the SCBA urged authorities in India and abroad to promptly and thoroughly investigate the reported incidents and to ensure their safety and security.
It called for those responsible to be identified and dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.
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