Seven former high court judges on Monday wrote an open letter to President Droupadi Murmu urging her to follow the “established democratic precedent” and invite the largest pre-poll alliance to form the government to preempt horse trading if the 2024 general elections lead to a hung Parliament. The retired judges also urged Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and the chief election commissioner to uphold the Constitution by ensuring a smooth transition of power, if the present ruling dispensation loses people’s mandate.The open letter is signed by six former Madras High Court judges G M Akbar Ali, Aruna Jagadeesan, D Hariparanthaman, P R Shivakumar, C T Selvam, S Vimala and former judge of Patna High Court Anjana Prakash.
They said there was “genuine concern” that if the present ruling dispensation loses people’s mandate, the transition of power may not be smooth and there could be a constitutional crisis.Concurring with the May 25 open statement of Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG) of former civil servants, the former judges said, “We are constrained to agree with the scenario envisaged in the above statement: ‘In the event of a hung parliament, onerous responsibilities will be placed upon the shoulders of the President of India.
