The latest episode of abusive trolling on social media targeting Andhra Pradesh high court judge Justice K Srinivas Reddy over his latest judgements, allegedly in favour of the YSR Congress party leaders, has triggered a big debate.
Supporters and activists of the ruling party have been trolling the judge on social media over the judgments he has been delivering on various petitions filed in the high court.
These include cases filed against YSRCP leaders during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Rentapalla tour, bail pleas of the brothers of leader Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, the Kakinada Port shares case in which MP YV Subba Reddy’s son Vikranth Reddy is an accused, and a bail plea of former MP Krishnam Raju in a case related to comments on Amaravati.
Justice Srinivas Reddy himself expressed anguish over this issue directly from the bench on Thursday. In this context, he recused himself from hearing two bail petitions scheduled for hearing and transferred them to another bench.
The controversy evoked strong protests from the advocates.
On Friday, the Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates Association issued a statement condemning unwarranted and malicious trolling of Justice Reddy on various social media platforms following the pronouncement of a judicial order.
The association said such trolling would not only undermine the dignity of the individual judge but also hake the foundation of the judicial institution and the rule of law.
“Judges are expected to discharge their constitutional duties without fear or favour, and attempts to malign them through public platforms are not only unacceptable but also constitute a direct assault on the independence of the judiciary,” the lawyers said.
It said any grievance with a judicial pronouncement must be addressed through appropriate legal channels and not through defamatory public commentary.
It appealed to the state government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu to initiate prompt action against those responsible for spreading such vitriolic content online.
“We also urge members of the legal fraternity, the media, and the general public to act responsibly and uphold the sanctity of the judicial process,” the statement said.
