CJI Chandrachud's message to lawyers on political interest ahead of Lok Sabha 2024: 'Loyalty must lie with...'

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ALSO READ: CJI Chandrachud on probe agencies: India must re-think its investigative framework Chandrachud was speaking at the Centenary Year Celebration of the Nagpur High Court Bar Association on Friday. Here's what he said: In his latest speech, the Chief Justice of India cautioned lawyers against allowing political interest to supersede loyalty to the court and the Constitution.

“The judiciary has time and again risen to the occasion to assert its independence and non-partisanship — a separation of the powers from the executive, the legislature and vested political interests," the CJI said. He went on to say, “In a vibrant and argumentative democracy like ours.

Most individuals have a political ideology or inclinations...to quote Aristotle, 'Human beings are political animals'. Lawyers are no exception." ALSO READ: CJI DY Chandrachud says SC hearing video 'doctored' to troll him: 'I just shifted my position...' "However, for the members of the Bar, one's highest loyalty must not lie with partisan interest but to the court and the Constitution," the CJI added.

Chandrachud said this while highlighting the “importance of independent Bar, and as a result, independent Bar associations." He said that in many ways, it is an independent bar that “is a moral bull work to protect the rule of law and constitutional governance". “We must not forget, however, that there is a close link between the independence of the judiciary and the independence of the Bar.

The Bar, as an institution, is essential to preserve judicial independence, constitutional values and the dignity of the court," he added. CJI Chandrachud said he was "very disturbed by the tendency of members of Bar Association to comment on cases which are pending before