It is unfortunate that a controversy has erupted around a judgement delivered years ago by Justice B Sudershan Reddy, who now happens to be the combined Opposition’s candidate for the vice-presidency. The ruling party has fielded Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, and what could have been a healthy democratic contest has been needlessly dragged into a polemical attack.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah fired the first salvo, accusing Justice Reddy of sympathising with Naxalism. As “evidence”, he cited the Salwa Judum judgement, in which a Bench headed by Justice Reddy had struck down the state’s policy of arming tribal boys as special police officers to fight Naxalites. According to Shah, but........

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