Supreme Court flags threats to judges, says intimidation undermines justice delivery

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over threats and attacks faced by judges and their families. The court shared this concern particularly in the wake of reports of threats being faced by retired Bombay High Court judge, justice GS Patel, and his kin.

A bench of justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Sanjeev Sachdeva observed that such incidents strike at the administration of justice and could deter judges from discharging their duties fearlessly.

The observation was made by the bench during the hearing of a bail plea filed by a man accused of leading an attack on the residence of a judicial officer in Madhya Pradesh.


The bench observed that if judges are subjected to such intimidation for performing their duties, it would have serious consequences for the justice dispensation system.

"You must have read in the newspapers, a retired judge of the Bombay High Court is facing all kinds of threats, his granddaughter was assaulted in London, and you are doing all this to judges who are passing judgements? No judge will be able to pass a judgement," the bench remarked orally.

Justice (retd) Patel has reportedly faced a series of threats following his April 2024 judgement in the Dawoodi Bohra leadership dispute. Reports indicate that members of his family, including his daughter in London, have been subjected to threats and acts of violence, prompting investigations by authorities in both India and the UK.

The petitioner, one Priyanshu Singh, has been in custody for over seven months in connection with allegations that he was involved in vandalism at the residence of a magistrate in Madhya Pradesh. According to the prosecution, the incident took place after Singh's earlier bail application was rejected by the magistrate.