‘Historical blunder’: Former Delhi HC judge writes to President on elevation of two judges to the top court

Reacting to the elevation of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Dinesh Maheshwari by the Supreme Court collegium, a former Delhi High Court judge and senior advocate, Kailash Gambhir, has written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind.

Maintaining that he couldn’t believe the news when TV channels broke it, Gambhir in a strongly worded letter has described the decision as “appalling, outrageous and earth shattering”.

The decision has raised many eyebrows in the legal circles as it supersedes as many as 32 judges who are said to be senior to Justice Khanna.

“This is appalling and outrageous that such an earth shattering decision…” he wrote, fearing that the move could be “casting aspersions on their intellect, merit and integrity.”

The elevation of Justice Sanjiv Khanna—superseding 32 senior judges will be a black day for the judiciary, Gambhir lamented.

Commenting on the recommendation to elevate Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, he wondered that “Justice Maheshwari was superseded by the collegium a month and a half back. Now out of the blue, he becomes more deserving and suitable within such a short gap.”

“The credibility and independence of the judiciary should be preserved,” Gambhir said in the concluding paragraph, requesting President to prevent the “historic blunder” from being committed.

Sharing a copy of the letter on Twitter, senior Supreme Court lawyer Indira Jaising billed the move as “a blunder beyond repair.”

“Demoralised judiciary will implode, Sanjeev Khanna J should politely decline the offer and await his turn in the interest of the institution, nothing personal, he is a super judge, but equally super and senior judges overlooked,” she remarked.