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Criticising the move, the legal luminaries issued a statement alleging that this “speaks volumes” of vice presidential candidate B Sudershan Reddy’s “intentions and allegiances”
Opposition’s VP candidate B Sudershan Reddy in New Delhi. (Image: PTI)
Eight former high court judges joined a section of legal luminaries on Monday to vehemently criticise joint opposition’s vice presidential candidate B Sudershan Reddy over his recent meeting with RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Criticising the move, the former judges penned a statement saying it is a “fundamental error in judgment” for someone of Reddy’s stature – a former Supreme Court judge – to “associate with convicted individuals”. They alleged that this “speaks volumes” of his “intentions and allegiances”.
“…Mr Reddy’s decision to associate with convicted individuals who have demonstrably harmed national interests through corruption, speaks volumes about his intentions and allegiances. This lapse, by an individual seeking to occupy an influential and prestigious constitutional post, represents a fundamental error in judgment, one that the public is bound to evaluate fully,” read a statement issued by the former HC judges.
The statement was issued by former judges of the Bombay High Court, Justices SM Khandeparkar and Ambadas Joshi; former Jharkhand HC judge Justice RK Marthiya; former Allahabad HC judge Justice Devender Kumar Ahuja; former Delhi HC judge Justice SN Dhingra; former Punjab & Haryana HC judge Justice Karam Chand Puri; former Kerala HC judge Justice PN Ravindran; and former Rajasthan HC judge Justice RS Rathore.
They said it is dismaying that Reddy recently held a private meeting with Lalu Prasad, who was convicted in the fodder scam case that involved the embezzlement of Rs 940 crore in Bihar. His decision cannot be justified by citing electoral considerations, as Yadav is neither an MP nor is he eligible to vote in the vice presidential electoral college, they said. Hence, they added, the meeting serves no legitimate political purpose.
“For someone of Mr Reddy’s stature, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India, and his ambition, which is to occupy one of the nation’s highest constitutional offices, an engagement of such dubious nature raises serious questions about his judgment and propriety. It is particularly worrying that despite his distinguished judicial background, Mr Reddy has independently associated with an individual whose criminal actions have been confirmed by Indian courts,” they said.
Taking an indirect swipe at the opposition, without taking names, the former judges further criticised the “silence of certain factions”, who they said are usually “up-in-arms at far lesser allegations”.
“This incident only re-confirms the partisan nature of those who position themselves as self-proclaimed custodians of constitutional morality. It reveals their willingness to overlook serious lapses for self-serving interest and political convenience,” they added.
On September 4, Yadav had posted on X pictures of his meeting with him, ahead of the September 9 vice presidential polls against the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) nominee CP Radhakrishnan.
Senior lawyers of the Supreme Court, including Pinky Anand, Sanjay Jain, Sonia Mathur and Anil Soni as well as former chairpersons and members of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa Motising Mohta, Milind Patil, Parijat Pande and Subhash Ghatge are also among the signatories to the statement.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
September 09, 2025, 00:09 IST
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