NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant has declined a request from INDIA bloc leaders seeking a personal meeting to present a memorandum on alleged electoral irregularities, stating that the leaders should approach the court through formal judicial petitions since the issue is already sub judice.
A reasoned formal response explaining the grounds for declining the administrative audience was communicated to the opposition delegation via email. The communication pointed out that grievances regarding the electoral process, raised by a delegation led by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, are properly suited for adjudication through judicial proceedings rather than administrative memorandums.
The development follows the opposition coalition’s decision to march toward the Supreme Court on Monday to raise concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, allegations of “vote chori”, and to press for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The alliance had previously staged protests in the national capital and submitted a representation to President Droupadi Murmu regarding their concerns with the election machinery.
The call for the Supreme Court march came in the wake of weekend police detentions across New Delhi aimed at curbing demonstrations against the Election Commission. Despite preventive detentions, opposition figures and civil activists reiterated their intention to carry forward demonstrations, with activist Abhijeet Dipke asserting that legal action would not deter public mobilization.
The Bharatiya Janata Party strongly criticized the planned demonstrations. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar brushed aside the agitation, remarking that the opposition periodically attempts to register its presence through disruptive spectacles. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused the Congress, AAP, Left organizations, and activist groups of intentionally engineering unrest across the capital, commending the Delhi Police for maintaining public order and ensuring civilian safety during the protests.
