In a public statement, former Supreme Court judge Justice V. Gopala Gowda accused the apex court of delivering a verdict on May 27, 2026, that he described as 'illegal, unconstitutional, and undemocratic.' Speaking at an anti-#SIR rally in Bengaluru, he expressed solidarity with youth and student movements protesting across India. Justice Gowda also criticized the election machinery and the central leadership, alleging that democratic principles are being eroded. He called for the immediate recall of the judgment and emphasized the growing support for the agitation among intellectuals and young people.