A group of former judges and retired constitutional office-holders has urged political parties, the media and citizens to protect India’s constitutional institutions. In an open letter dated October 7, the signatories raised concern over what they called a sustained campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI), the higher judiciary and statutory bodies.

The signatories said they were writing “as former judges and retired veterans of constitutional office” and had no brief for any political party. They said criticism of institutions was a democratic right. However, they objected to constitutional authorities being labelled “thieves”, “puppets” and “compromised” without such claims being established in a court of law.

The letter also criticised allegations of “vote theft”. It said such claims were being made at press conferences instead of being taken before courts. The signatories said the Election Commission had sought a sworn declaration, but no such declaration was filed. They also questioned the selective criticism of electronic voting machines after electoral defeats.

The former judges and constitutional functionaries alleged that some activist groups were filing petitions without enough evidence. They said judicial decisions were later criticised when they did not favour those raising the grievances. According to the letter, such attacks could weaken public confidence in the judicial system.

On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the signatories said the exercise fell within the constitutional and statutory framework governing elections. Referring to Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, they said the Election Commission had the power to revise electoral rolls. They also noted that intensive revisions had been held in the past.

The letter said the SIR aimed to remove names of deceased persons, duplicate entries and voters who had shifted residence. It also sought to ensure that eligible citizens remained on the rolls. The signatories said two decades of migration and urbanisation had made corrections to electoral rolls necessary.

The letter further claimed that the Supreme Court had upheld the SIR as lawful and within the Election Commission’s powers, with safeguards including notice, hearing, objection and appeal. It said the exercise advanced the constitutional requirement of free and fair elections.

The signatories warned that continued attacks on electoral institutions could damage public confidence. They said repeatedly telling citizens that their votes did not count could weaken faith in the electoral process and create space for unrest and fringe elements.

They urged political parties to contest elections without delegitimising them and to take grievances to the Election Commission and courts with evidence. They asked the media to scrutinise and verify allegations before reporting them. They also called on constitutional bodies to remain transparent and address legitimate concerns.

“Constitutional bodies do not belong to any government; they belong to the people of India,” the letter said, calling upon citizens to defend institutions that safeguard their democratic rights.