Madhya Pradesh judge faces mob fury as suo motu case to protect judicial officers sits mute in Supreme Court

Madhya Pradesh Additional District and Sessions Judge Tabassum Khan has faced online abuse and threats since sentencing a group of cow vigilantes to life imprisonment for lynching truck driver Sheikh Lala Nazir Ahmed in August 2022. This comes as a suo motu case initiated after the death of another judge, Uttam Anand, who was mowed down while jogging in 2021, languishes in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has expressed concern over rising violence and maligning campaigns against judges, highlighting the need for an environment where judicial officers feel safe. The Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) has condemned the threats and social media campaign against Judge Khan, emphasizing the importance of upholding judicial independence.