Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said the recent barrage of criticism against two Supreme Court judges, who had made some remarks on suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, was “unwarranted”, as it sought to undermine the independence of judiciary. Mr. Gehlot said the judges could not function without fear or favour if they were attacked for their observations and judgments.
“A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala said something recently [about Nupur Sharma]. It is our duty to respect the judiciary. But 116 persons were made to stand up against them. They included former High Court and Supreme Court judges, bureaucrats, officers and several others,” Mr. Gehlot said while addressing an All India Legal Services Authorities’ meeting here.
The Supreme Court judges had made some oral comments on Ms. Sharma and held her responsible for “igniting emotions” across the country while hearing her plea to club all the first information reports registered against her in different parts of the country and transfer them to Delhi. Ms. Sharma faces the charge of making offensive remarks against Prophet Muhammad during a television debate.
