Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant has declined a request by INDIA bloc leaders to meet him and submit a memorandum alleging electoral irregularities, advising the opposition delegation to approach the Supreme Court through a formal petition, as the matter is already sub judice.
According to people familiar with the development, a detailed response explaining the decision was emailed to the opposition leaders. The communication reportedly stated that the concerns raised by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other members of the delegation should be addressed through judicial proceedings rather than administrative channels.
The decision follows the INDIA bloc’s announcement that its leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, would march to the Supreme Court on Monday to submit a memorandum to the CJI. Their concerns centre on alleged “vote chori”, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The opposition alliance had earlier staged protests in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, raising concerns over the electoral process.
On Sunday, opposition leaders renewed their appeal for public participation in the proposed October 12 march, a day after police detained protesters demanding Kumar’s resignation. The leaders also criticised the police action.
Rahul Gandhi urged citizens to join the march to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, activist Abhijeet Dipke, who was released from preventive detention, said he had not signed any undertaking barring him from participating in future protests. He vowed to return to the streets and challenged the authorities to arrest him repeatedly.
The protests also drew criticism from the BJP. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar dismissed the opposition’s demonstrations, comparing the alliance’s efforts to remain politically relevant to a cockroach crawling across someone’s back.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Left parties and the CJP of creating disorder during the demonstrations in the capital. She defended the Delhi Police’s response, stating that the force had worked to maintain law and order and protect public safety.