CJI Surya Kant Declines Opposition’s Meeting Request Ahead of Supreme Court March

CJI Surya Kant Turns Down Rahul Gandhi, Kharge’s Meeting Request Ahead of INDIA Bloc March

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined a request from Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for a meeting ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court on Monday, sources told India Today.

Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Kharge, his counterpart in the Rajya Sabha, had sought an appointment between 4 pm and 5 pm on October 12 to submit a memorandum raising concerns over alleged electoral malpractice.

The Opposition’s demands include an end to alleged “vote chori”, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the restoration of paper ballots.

Sources said the CJI conveyed his decision through an email, explaining that the issues raised by the leaders were already pending before the Supreme Court. They added that the court could not use its administrative authority to interfere in the government’s functioning.

The leaders were advised to pursue their concerns through judicial proceedings if they sought protection of their fundamental rights.

Confirming that he had received the request, CJI Surya Kant said, “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.”

Electoral Roll Revision at the Centre of Opposition’s Protest

The Opposition’s campaign is focused on allegations that voters have been wrongly removed from electoral rolls and that the lists have been manipulated during the SIR exercise. Opposition parties have accused the Election Commission of favouring the BJP and have called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

The controversy escalated after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months, largely concerning SIR-related decisions.

The Election Commission has maintained that differences of opinion are part of the deliberative process and said its decisions are supported by law and follow statutory procedures.

Congress Announces ‘March for Democracy’

The Congress has called the protest “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy” and urged participants to assemble at the Connaught Place–Barakhamba Road junction at 1.30 pm on Monday.

Rahul Gandhi said young people, Opposition parties and civil society organisations would participate in the march towards the Supreme Court. He also alleged that peaceful protesters were assaulted by police personnel and BJP supporters in Delhi on Saturday.

Kharge said the leaders had sought the CJI’s intervention in the matter. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of creating unrest, claiming that the police deployment and detentions during Saturday’s protest reflected the government’s fear of the Opposition’s campaign.

Opposition Seeks President’s Intervention

On Friday, police stopped Opposition MPs at Vijay Chowk as they attempted to advance their protest. Several leaders staged a sit-in, while a 10-member delegation proceeded to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Droupadi Murmu.

The delegation sought the President’s intervention for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

After the meeting, Opposition leaders said Murmu had asked them to provide evidence of the alleged electoral irregularities and agreed to examine their concerns.

Rahul Gandhi said he was “shocked” that the President had not denied or questioned the allegations. He claimed that evidence of alleged vote theft was known across the country and said the Opposition would submit it to her.