Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday, June 11, 2026, publicly rebutted claims circulating on social media that judges had travelled to London to play badminton, calling the narrative 'fake news' and warning of a broader conspiracy to malign India's judiciary and its constitutional institutions.

Context

In his post on X, Rijiju challenged those spreading what he described as false information, asking pointedly: 'Who's spreading the fake news that Judges have gone to London to play Badminton?' He clarified that the badminton event in question is a regular fixture for the Bar and Bench community held in Delhi — not abroad. The minister added that he was personally invited to the event in 2025 for the promotion of fitness and sports.

Rijiju further stated that there is 'a conspiracy to malign Judiciary and important institutions of India,' framing the rumour as a deliberate attempt to damage public trust in the country's courts and constitutional bodies.

Policy Backdrop

The Bar and Bench badminton event is understood to be a routine professional gathering that brings together members of the legal fraternity — judges, advocates, and court staff — in a sporting setting. Such events are common across India's legal ecosystem and are designed to foster camaraderie and promote wellness within the profession.

Ministers and senior officials have periodically stepped in to counter media narratives or social media rumours perceived as targeting constitutional institutions. Rijiju, who has previously served as Minister of Law and Justice, has a track record of commenting on matters relating to the judiciary and its public image.

Stakeholders and Impact

The judiciary, the legal fraternity, and the broader public are the primary stakeholders here. Misinformation about judges engaging in foreign travel at public expense — if left unchallenged — can erode public confidence in an institution that depends heavily on its perceived impartiality and integrity.

The Supreme Court and the Bar Council of India have not issued any independent statement on the matter as of the time of publication. The clarification has come entirely through Rijiju's personal social media intervention, which itself signals the government's sensitivity to narratives that could undermine institutional credibility.

What's Next

The episode is likely to prompt calls for greater transparency around judicial participation in professional and sporting events, if only to preempt similar misinformation in the future. A formal clarification from the Supreme Court registry or the Bar Council of India could help settle public questions decisively.

More broadly, the incident underscores the vulnerability of constitutional institutions to coordinated disinformation campaigns in an era of rapid social media amplification. Rijiju's intervention signals that the government intends to push back against such narratives publicly and promptly.