Lawyers commenting on pending cases, judgments disturbing trend: CJI

The judiciary has broad shoulders and can take praise as well as criticism in its stride, but the recent tendency of lawyers to comment on pending cases or judgments is very disturbing, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has said. Office-bearers and members of the bar should not forget while reacting to judicial decisions that they are officers of the court and not laypersons, he said. The CJI was speaking at the centenary year celebration of the High Court Bar Association of Nagpur on Friday. The judiciary has time and again risen to the occasion to assert its independence and non-partisanship, Justice Chandrachud said. "We must not forget, however, that there is a close link between the independence of the judiciary and independence of the bar," he said. The bar as an institution is essential to preserve judicial independence, constitutional values and dignity of the court, the CJI added. In a vibrant and argumentative democracy like India, most individuals have political .