THE BEYOND OBITER LAW BLOG: Law & Policy

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The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has strongly condemned the threats, intimidation, and online abuse directed at Additional District and Sessions Judge Tabassum Khan following her judgment convicting members of a cow vigilante group in a lynching case. Calling the attacks an assault on judicial independence, the Bar Association urged the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the State Government to take prompt and stringent action against those responsible.

In a statement issued on July 3, the SCBA expressed its solidarity with the judicial officer, observing that the reported threats and social media campaign against her arose solely from the discharge of her judicial duties. The Association noted that an FIR had already been registered and that security for the judge had been enhanced in view of the threats.

Condemning the intimidation in unequivocal terms, the SCBA stated that judicial officers must be able to perform their constitutional functions without fear of retaliation or harassment.

The Bar Association underscored that the district judiciary constitutes the backbone of India's justice delivery system, with trial judges deciding thousands of sensitive civil and criminal cases every day. It stressed that judicial officers deserve the assurance that the law will protect them whenever they faithfully discharge their responsibilities.

Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the independence, dignity, and impartiality of the judiciary, the SCBA stated that any attempt to undermine judicial independence must be firmly resisted, as an independent judiciary remains one of the cornerstones of the Constitution.

The Association called upon the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the State Government to ensure a prompt, fair, and effective investigation into the incident, identify all individuals responsible for issuing threats or spreading hatred against the judge, and initiate strict action against them in accordance with law.

The statement follows a similar expression of support by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association. Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has already taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and sought a report from the State authorities regarding the measures taken to ensure Judge Tabassum Khan's safety and investigate the threats against her.