CJI Surya Kant Declines Meeting With Rahul Gandhi & Kharge Ahead of SC March
The opposition INDI alliance suffered a significant institutional setback on Monday ahead of its planned march to the Supreme Court, as Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant formally declined an appointment request to meet an opposition delegation led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Responding to the alliance's request for an audience between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM on Monday to submit a political memorandum concerning alleged electoral discrepancies, the Chief Justice advised the leaders to pursue the established constitutional route by filing a formal petition instead of conducting protest marches to the court. Emphasizing the sub judice nature of the controversy, judicial sources confirmed that the CJI highlighted that several core issues the opposition intends to raise regarding electoral processes are already actively pending before the Supreme Court and undergoing judicial adjudication, making private administrative interactions inappropriate.
'Court Not an Administrative Platform': CJI Cites Sub Judice Norms and Separation of Powers
In an official email communication outlining his decision, the Chief Justice clarified the constitutional boundary demarcating the judiciary from political agitation, stating that the apex court lacks administrative mandate to entertain delegations from political parties on issues requiring judicial determinations. The CJI underlined that the institutional responsibility of the Supreme Court is strictly confined to hearing properly instituted legal petitions and delivering impartial verdicts within the framework of the Constitution, rather than receiving political memoranda in chambers. Reinforcing judicial accessibility, Justice Surya Kant reiterated that as the nation’s highest judicial forum, the doors of the Supreme Court remain open around the clock to every Indian citizen, affirming the bench's commitment to safeguarding fundamental rights whenever approached through due process. The development follows an earlier diplomatic representation on October 9, when a joint delegation of opposition parliamentarians met President Droupadi Murmu to register their concerns over the functioning of statutory institutions.
Opposition Defies Refusal: Rahul Gandhi Rallies Cadres Demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Exit
Despite the Chief Justice’s refusal to grant a chamber meeting, the INDI alliance has resolved to press ahead with its scheduled protest march toward the apex court on Monday, intensifying its ongoing agitation demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The joint movement, which has also drawn demonstrations from student bodies and rights organizations including Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), alleges serious irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the overall management of the voting apparatus. Championing the mobilization, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi asserted that the march transcends individual political banners to represent the democratic rights of all Indian citizens. Framing the demonstration as a nationwide movement to protect electoral integrity, Gandhi stated that the protest aims to build widespread accountability not only targeting CEC Gyanesh Kumar, but also challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP-led central government, which the opposition alleges has derived unfair political advantage from the disputed SIR process.
