New Delhi, Dec. 10 -- Forty-four former judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts have denounced what they called a "motivated campaign" against Chief Justice of India Surya Kant over his remarks in the Rohingya migrant case, asserting that critics have distorted a routine legal query into allegations of prejudice, the statement said.

The signatories said that attempts to misrepresent routine judicial questions as prejudiced remarks were aimed at undermining the judiciary and eroding public trust in constitutional institutions.

The former judges noted that while judicial decisions and courtroom exchanges can indeed be subject to fair and informed critique, the current controversy crosses that boundary.

"Judicial proceedings can and s...