Advocates called Reddy’s meeting with a convict worrying, citing judicial bias and partisan silence on morality
New Delhi
A group of 20 senior advocates from the Supreme Court and High Courts on Monday voiced concern over a private meeting between Opposition Vice-Presidential candidate B. Sudarshan Reddy and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, convicted in the multi-crore fodder scam.
In a joint statement, the advocates said such an engagement raises “serious questions on propriety and constitutional morality” for someone seeking one of the country’s top constitutional offices. “It is dismaying to note that Mr. Reddy met Mr. Yadav, who stands convicted in the fodder scam involving embezzlement of nearly Rs 940 crore of public funds,” the statement read.
The advocates described the meeting as a “worrying development,” pointing out that Reddy, despite his judicial background, chose to independently engage with a convicted individual. They added that the silence of groups usually vocal about morality issues revealed “partisan convenience.”
According to them, Reddy’s association reflected a grave lapse in judgment that undermines the dignity of constitutional institutions. They urged the public to carefully evaluate the issue, noting that “an individual aspiring to an influential post cannot afford such errors.”
The criticism comes days after several former judges publicly defended Reddy, recalling his controversial ruling on Salwa Judum, which critics claimed weakened anti-Naxal operations. The judges urged that the Vice-Presidential campaign be conducted with dignity, avoiding attacks on ideological grounds.
The debate has now placed Reddy’s candidacy under sharper scrutiny, with supporters highlighting his judicial record and critics stressing the need for higher standards of integrity in public life.