Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has declined a request from Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders to meet him over alleged electoral irregularities, saying that related matters are already pending before the Supreme Court and must be pursued through judicial proceedings.
The Congress leaders had sought an appointment on Monday, October 12, between 4 pm and 5 pm to submit a memorandum raising concerns over alleged “vote chori”, the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the recent police action against protesters in Delhi.
The development comes as Opposition parties prepare to march towards the Supreme Court under the banner “Chalo Delhi: March for Democracy”, demanding a halt to the SIR exercise and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
CJI Says Supreme Court Must Not Become a Political Battleground
Speaking to reporters on Monday, CJI Surya Kant confirmed that he had received the meeting request and responded to it the previous night.
“I received a letter yesterday regarding a meeting request, and I responded to it last night, outlining the reasons why I will be unable to meet,” he said.
When asked about the reasons, the CJI declined to disclose the contents of his response, citing confidentiality.
He also stressed that the Supreme Court’s administrative side could not be used to issue judicial directions on matters that required consideration through legal proceedings.
“We will not allow the Supreme Court to become a political battlefield,” he said, while emphasising that protests must take place at designated locations and in accordance with the law.
The CJI said the court remained accessible to ordinary citizens as well as elected representatives.
“Any petition from any common citizen or member of an elected body is welcome. Every Indian citizen has the right to approach the court, and we will hear their concerns and grant whatever is due under the law,” he said.
Opposition Memorandum Sought SIR Rollback, CEC’s Resignation
Rahul Gandhi and Kharge had planned to submit a memorandum outlining their concerns about the electoral process and the Election Commission.
The proposed memorandum was expected to demand the suspension of the SIR exercise, Kumar’s resignation and a return to paper ballots. Opposition parties have alleged that the revision of electoral rolls raises questions about the fairness and transparency of elections.
The Election Commission’s functioning has come under renewed political scrutiny amid allegations of irregularities in the revision process. The Opposition has called for judicial scrutiny and greater accountability from the poll panel.
The CJI’s response indicated that the leaders could approach the Supreme Court through the appropriate judicial process rather than seeking intervention through an administrative meeting.
CJI Warns Against Disruption of Supreme Court Proceedings
Separately, CJI Surya Kant said the Supreme Court should not be drawn into political disputes over the ongoing protests and that its functioning must not be disrupted.
The remarks came after Senior Advocate Atmaram Nadkarni and Supreme Court Bar Association president Pradeep Rai mentioned petitions concerning the detention of lawyers during protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on October 10 against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The CJP protests and the Opposition’s planned march follow demands for accountability over the SIR exercise and allegations of electoral irregularities.
The Supreme Court has maintained that citizens and elected representatives can bring their grievances before it through established legal procedures. The latest developments leave the Opposition’s demands for changes to the electoral revision process and Kumar’s resignation at the centre of the political confrontation.
