A group of former Supreme Court and High Court judges has issued a strong appeal asking Members of Parliament to stop the move to impeach Madras High Court judge Justice G.R. Swaminathan, saying it is unfair and dangerous for the independence of the judiciary.

In their statement, the judges say this attempt looks like an effort to pressure or scare judges who do not follow certain political or ideological views. They add that even if the reasons given by the MPs are accepted, they are not serious enough to justify impeachment, a step that should be used only in the rarest and most serious cases.

They remind the public that similar political pressure was seen during the Emergency, when some judges were punished for not “toeing the line.” Despite that, the judiciary has always fought to re

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