Amit Shah’s remarks on Justice Reddy unfortunate

UNION Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on the Supreme Court's 2011 ruling in the Salwa Judum case have been termed "unfortunate" by a group of former judges and senior lawyers. It's a sentiment that is widely shared. The BJP leader has accused the co-author of the judgment, Justice B Sudershan Reddy, who is the Opposition candidate for the September 9 vice-presidential elections, of supporting Naxalism and ending the tribals' right to defend themselves. The signatories have objected to "misinterpretation" of the ruling, which they said does not, either expressly or by implication, lend support to Naxalism or its ideology. One can only agree with the contention that while the campaign may well be ideological, it can be conducted civilly. Concern has also been expressed about how such "prejudicial" action can have a chilling effect on the independence of judges.