Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Wednesday finally broke his silence on the crisis gripping the Supreme Court ever since corruption allegations were levelled against him by some activist lawyers, escalated by a press conference of four senior-most judges and culminated in an impeachment motion the notice of which was rejected by Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.

In a terse message to "elements attempting to weaken the institution", he said, "To criticise, attack and destroy the system is quite easy. What is difficult and challenging is to transform it into a performing one".

Quoting British poet Alfred Tennyson, the CJI said one's motto in such a situation should be "strong in will, strive, seek, fight and not yield". The CJI was speaking at the Independence Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association.

He said when a lot of "noise" is being heard, one must "work hard in silence with utmost sincerity" and "let the work make the noise." Though CJI Misra did not take any names, observers say it was clear to all that the utterances were a message to his detractors within and outside the judiciary.

"For raising the standard of judiciary one has to transcend one's personal ambitions or grievances. Constructive steps need to be taken with positive mindset of reform, no matter how so ever small with maturity, responsibility and composure. Only then the institution can go to higher and greater heights," he said.

"Let us not identify with anyone... there may be some elements who may endeavour to weaken the institution. But you and I (advocates) should work together, refuse to succumb to them. We have to serve the lady of justice," the CJI added. The top court has been in the grip of one crisis after another since November last year after CJI Misra revoked certain orders passed by a Justice Jasti Chelameswar-led bench in connection with the medical seats scam case in which some activist- lawyers raised allegations of his involvement, transferred the hearing to a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra who dismissed the plea for an SIT probe.

Let us not identify with anyone... there may be some elements who may endeavour to weaken the institution. But we should refuse to succumb to them. - Chief Justice Dipak Misra

Later, In January this year, four senior-most Supreme Court judges led by Justice Chelameswar held an unprecedented press conference to say "democracy is in danger" due to certain actions of CJI Misra.

They raised apprehensions about the administration of the apex court under CJI Misra and alleged that "sensitive cases were being allotted to benches of his preference".

Making use of the deep differences within the collegium and issues raised by "rebel" senior judges, the Congress-led Opposition in the Rajya Sabha moved a notice of impeachment against Misra. But it was rejected by RS chairman Naidu, saying the allegations were based on "suspicion and conjectures".

Charges of misconduct against Misra in the impeachment notice were his "role" in the medical seats allocation scam. It also alleged "the CJI acquired land when he was an advocate, by giving an affidavit found to be false and despite orders of ADM cancelling allotment in 1985, surrendered the said land only in 2012 after he was elevated to SC".

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