Amid raging protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, a group of 42 former judges and retired holders of constitutional offices has issued an open letter raising concern over a 'sustained campaign' against the ECI, the higher judiciary and statutory bodies, while urging political parties, the media and citizens to defend India’s constitutional institutions.

The signatories said they were writing "as former judges and retired veterans of constitutional office", clarifying that they had no brief for any political party.

Stressing that criticism of institutions was a democratic right, they alleged that constitutional authorities were increasingly being described as "thieves", "puppets" and "compromised" without such allegations being established before a court of law.

The letter, dated October 7, particularly slammed allegations of "vote theft", saying such claims were being made at press conferences rather than before courts. The letter recalls the Election Commission's request for a sworn declaration, which was never filed. The former judges and other senior officials questioned the selective criticism of EVMs after electoral defeats.

ALSO READ: CJP Bengaluru Protest: Dhruv Rathee Calls For EC's Accountability, Prakash Raj Seeks SIR Rollback | Watch

The former judges and constitutional functionaries also alleged that certain activist groups were filing petitions without sufficient proof and that judicial decisions were subsequently criticised when they did not serve the interests of those raising the grievances. They said such attacks risked eroding public confidence in the judicial system.

The officials and judges also spoke about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in their letter, saying the exercise was part of the constitutional and statutory framework governing elections. Citing Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, they said the EC was empowered to revise electoral rolls, and such exercises have happened in the past too.

The letter stated that the purpose of the SIR was to remove names of deceased persons, duplicate entries and relocated voters while ensuring that eligible citizens were included in the rolls.

ALSO READ: CEC-SIR Row: Delhi Police Tighten Security, Plan House Arrests Ahead Of Oct 10 CJP Protest

Emphasising the need for SIR, the signatories said that two decades of migration and urbanisation have happened since the last revision.

The letter further added that the Supreme Court had upheld the SIR as lawful and within the Election Commission’s powers.

(With ANI Inputs)