{
  "id": 12866159,
  "title": "42 Former Judges Defend Election Commission, Warn Against 'Vote Theft' Allegations Amid SIR Row",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/42-former-judges-defend-election-commission-warn-against-vote-theft",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T12:10:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/42-former-judges-defend-election-commission-warn-against-vote-theft-allegations-amid-sir-row"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A letter signed by 42 former judges, including Supreme Court and High Court justices, has been released expressing concern over a campaign targeting the Election Commission and other constitutional institutions. The signatories question allegations of \"vote theft\" without evidence, warning that branding constitutional authorities as \"thieves\" risks damaging public trust in democracy. They defend the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, stating it is a legal procedure to ensure accurate voter lists. The letter emphasizes that criticism of institutions is a democratic right, but denigration is not. Former High Court chief justices B.C. Patel, Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, and Permod Kohli are among the signatories. Meanwhile, BJP national president Nitin Nabin criticized Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, stating that if the Opposition has courage, it should resign from seats won through ECI-conducted elections. Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs were detained by Delhi Police during a protest near Janpath.",
  "summary": "New Delhi, Oct 8: In a strongly worded open letter, 42 former judges, including those from the Supreme Court and High Courts, on Thursday expressed grave concern over a sustained campaign to undermine the Election Commission, judiciary, and other constitutional institutions. Former judges question vote theft allegations The signatories have questioned allegations of \"vote theft\" without…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "42 Former Judges Write Open Letter, Warn Against Vote Theft Allegations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/42-former-judges-write-open-letter-warn-against-vote-theft-allegations",
        "published": "2026-10-08T10:27:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "42 retired judges in open letter defend Election Commission amid SIR row: 'Calculated campaign without evidence'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/42-retired-judges-in-open-letter-defend-election-commission-amid-sir",
        "published": "2026-10-08T12:06:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}