New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has declined a request from the Congress-led INDIA bloc of Opposition parties for a meeting ahead of their planned march to the Supreme Court on Monday. He has advised the leaders to approach the court through a petition, as the issues they intend to raise are already under judicial consideration.
According to sources, the CJI conveyed that the matters the Opposition leaders wish to discuss are sub judice and are currently being heard by the Supreme Court. He reportedly said that the court could not meet a delegation representing a political party at the administrative level, emphasising that its role is to hear petitions and deliver judgments.
The CJI also reiterated that the doors of the Supreme Court, the country’s highest judicial body, remain “open 24 hours a day for all” and that the institution is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of every citizen.
Despite the refusal, the INDIA bloc’s proposed march is likely to proceed on Monday. The demonstration is part of a broader campaign by Opposition parties demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, among other concerns.
Rahul Gandhi Says March Is for All Indians
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has maintained that the proposed march is “not of a political party, but of all Indians”. The Congress leader is seeking to widen the campaign’s reach and increase pressure on both the Chief Election Commissioner and the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre.
Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the government has benefited from the SIR exercise, which has emerged as a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.
The INDIA bloc had also submitted a charter of demands to President Droupadi Murmu last Friday, setting out four key demands concerning electoral reforms and alleged vote manipulation.
Opposition Seeks CEC’s Resignation, Reversal of Voter Deletions
The Opposition’s demands include the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the repeal of the 2023 law that provides legal immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
The bloc has also called for the immediate suspension of the SIR exercise and the restoration of all 13.3 crore voters allegedly deleted from electoral rolls.
Earlier on Sunday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the legal protection granted to the head and members of the Election Commission of India under the 2023 law. He alleged that the government had introduced the legislation to shield election officials from legal action.
“To create such an atmosphere, PM Modi brought the 2023 Act to protect the Chief Election Commissioner and members. That immunity he gave. That immunity is not even for the President of India, not the Chief Justice, but that is given to one Election Commissioner,” Kharge said.
The proposed march comes amid escalating tensions between the Opposition and the Election Commission over the SIR exercise. With the CJI declining the request for a meeting and directing the leaders towards the legal process, the INDIA bloc’s next steps are likely to keep the dispute over electoral rolls and the demand for electoral reforms in focus.