CJI Surya Kant Rejects Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge’s Meeting Request Ahead Of INDIA Bloc March
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has declined a request from Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to meet him ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court on Monday, October 12, sources told India Today.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gandhi and the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Kharge had called for an appointment between 4 pm and 5 pm for submission of a memorandum expressing concern on alleged electoral irregularities.
The Opposition leaders planned to press for an end to alleged “vote chori”, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a return to paper ballots.
CJI Cites Pending Matters Before Supreme Court
According to sources, the Chief Justice’s response was sent to the two leaders by email. The issues they intended to raise were already pending before the Supreme Court, making a meeting at this stage inappropriate.
The response also reportedly indicated that the Supreme Court could not use its administrative powers to intervene in the functioning of the executive government.
The leaders were advised that concerns relating to the protection of fundamental rights could be pursued through the established judicial process.
The decision came a day before the Opposition’s planned march, which was announced as an effort to submit a memorandum directly to the Chief Justice.
Rahul Gandhi Announces March To Supreme Court
Gandhi had announced that Opposition leaders, civil society groups and young people would march to the Supreme Court on October 12.
The proposed demonstration is part of the INDIA bloc’s wider campaign against what it alleges are irregularities in electoral-roll revision and the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The Opposition has demanded Kumar’s resignation and called for the SIR exercise to be halted. It has also called for a shift to the paper ballot, saying that the electoral process must be made more transparent and accountable.
The claims of manipulation of the electoral process are disputed, with the Election Commission saying its actions are based on legal and statutory processes.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over SIR And Voter Rolls
The dispute centres on allegations that voters have been wrongly removed from electoral rolls and that the SIR process has been carried out in a manner that could affect electoral fairness.
Opposition parties have accused the Election Commission of favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a charge that has intensified the political confrontation over the revision exercise.
The controversy has also gained attention following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on multiple occasions over a period of 10 months, largely concerning SIR-related decisions.
The Election Commission has maintained that differences of opinion can arise during internal deliberations and that its orders are supported by legal provisions.
INDIA Bloc’s Next Move
The refusal to grant a meeting presents a setback for the Opposition’s plan to submit its concerns directly to the Chief Justice before the proposed march.
However, the CJI’s reported response leaves the leaders free to approach the Supreme Court through formal judicial proceedings to seek relief on matters involving electoral processes and fundamental rights.
The planned march comes amid heightened political tensions over the SIR exercise, demands for Kumar’s resignation and recent police action against protesters in Delhi.