Skip to main content

Jethmalani's letters to PM, President before he told Modi, "My diminishing respect for you ends today"

In two separate letters, first to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then to President Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, veteran Supreme Court advocate Ram Jethmalani took strong exception to the appointment of KV Chowdary as chief vigilance commissioner (CVC) of India. Despite the letters of protest, Chowdary was appointed CVC, making Jethmalani to declare on June 8, “My diminishing respect for you ends today.”
Text of the two letters:

Jethmalani’s letter to the Prime Minister (May 26, 2015):
You are aware that I am appearing for the Petitions in Writ Petition (Civil), No 683 of 2014, relating to the appointment the Central Vigilance Commissioner and a Vigilance Commissioner. The Petitioners are with perfect justification entitled to see that no unworthy person is appointed to either of these offices and the provisions of the Act are fully and strictly applied in the matter of appointment.
At the last hearing of the matter on May 13, 2015, though I was not present, my other junior counsel were present and the Honourable Court permitted the selection process to go on but before the appointments are made leave of the court has to be taken. When the matter is to be heard next the Attorney General will have to produce the order of appointment as well as entire original record. All the contentions of both the parties are left open and obviously the appointments will be subject to Court orders.
As a citizen India and as part of my duties as the counsel of the petitioner I will continue to serve the nation by enforcement the law to promote public probity. Of course this is a task and it becomes necessary to expose some people’s bad records. One such person is your Finance Minister. I have made no secret of my contempt for him. I have repeatedly warned you that he has no interest whatsoever in identification and punishment of powerful offenders or in repatriation of the proceeds of their crimes. It’s all over the media that at the last meeting of the Selection Committee you had kept Mr Arun Jaitley present and he was allowed to propose the name of Mr KV Chowdary as CVC.
KV Chowdary by no means has clean record. It is well known that corrupt public servant thrive with the help corrupt politicians. Mr. Chowdary has been connected with the previous France Minister Chidambaram whose great contribution to a cause very dear to you was wholly to frustrate it by his actions which themselves amount to crimes. This Chowdury is also ex-officio member of the special investigation team (SIT). Nothing in the SIT will remain secret from the criminals involved. I understand that your Finance Minister strongly recommended his name for the appointment as CVC.
I know you will not like it, but it is my duty to warn you that I will have to come with the whole bitter truth for the public and the Honourable Supreme Court to know. By the sheer presence of the Finance Minister your proceedings of the meeting are rendered null and void. It is true that if you secretly consult him and even feel compelled to follow his advice the truth may not become known but it does not mean that the law is being followed.
One more character to be avoided is Anita Kapoor, currently CBDT chairperson. I am still awaiting your response to my letter written to you earlier this month.
I still remain your friend but perhaps not for long.
Jethmalani’s letter to the President of India (June 2, 2015):
I am writing this in a state of great mental excitement. I am shocked at what the Prime Minister on the advice of his Finance Minister is about to do about fulfilling his claim during the election campaign that he wanted to eradicate every bit of corruption and provide a bureaucracy of unimpeachable integrity. This is also statutory requirement for the office of chief vigilance commissioner (CVC).
From the accompanying copy of my letter dated May 26, 2015, addressed to the Prime Minister, you will find how opposed I am to the appointment of Mr K Chowdary as the future CVC. After the appointment is sanctioned by the government, the formal appointment will be the act of the President of India. I am writing this to warn you that this is the greatest disaster that will fall on this unfortunate nation. For the nation’s sake, call for the entire record of this officer’s involvement in criminal activities from which he has managed to get out with the help of corrupt and anti-national elements, which the Prime Minister unfortunately cannot control.
I would like to call on you and demonstrate to you the fate which awaits our unfortunate people. Do hear me and postpone the action of the government which the government is determined to take.

Comments

TRENDING

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative   At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar  For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative   Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman*   India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

A matter of deep concern: The silent struggles of India's visually impaired women

By N.S. Venkataraman  Visual impairment is one of the most severe forms of physical disability that afflicts humanity, and its impact is even more acute when it affects women. The burden becomes overwhelming when visually impaired women also belong to economically weaker sections of society, with little or no financial or institutional support. Their struggle for dignity, survival, and identity is often invisible—hidden in plain sight across cities and rural corners alike. And yet, these women form a large, neglected segment of society not just in India, but around the world. In India, governmental assistance to visually impaired persons exists but remains minimal. While policies are framed with good intent, they often fall short in implementation. More importantly, no real distinction is made between the unique challenges faced by visually impaired men and women. This gender-blind approach to disability support overlooks the compounded social vulnerabilities that women face due to...