CJI Surya Kant Rejects INDIA Bloc’s Request for Meeting on Electoral ‘Irregularities’

The Chief Justice of India has asked opposition leaders to approach the Supreme Court through a formal petition, as the issue is already sub judice, amid plans for a march on October 12.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant has rejected the INDIA bloc’s request for a meeting to submit a representation over alleged electoral irregularities, advising opposition leaders to approach the court through a formal petition as the matter is already sub judice, according to people familiar with the development.

A reasoned response explaining the grounds for the rejection was sent to the opposition leaders by email, the sources said. The response reportedly stated that the concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the delegation would be more appropriately addressed through judicial proceedings rather than through an administrative representation.

The development comes after INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, announced plans to march to the Supreme Court on Monday, October 12, to submit a memorandum to the CJI. Their concerns include allegations of “vote chori”, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The opposition alliance had previously held protests in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, raising concerns about the electoral process.

The proposed march follows a police crackdown on demonstrators demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Opposition leaders on Sunday appealed to citizens to join the march to the Supreme Court on October 12 and criticised the detentions of protesters.

Rahul Gandhi called for the march, while CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke, who was released after being preventively detained, said he had not signed any undertaking barring him from protesting. He vowed to return to the streets and challenged the authorities to jail him “not just once, but a hundred times.”

The BJP, meanwhile, dismissed the opposition protests. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar compared the opposition’s political activity to “a cockroach crawling across one’s back”, saying it occasionally made its presence felt.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Left parties and the CJP of creating chaos during demonstrations in the national capital. She also praised the Delhi Police for managing the situation and maintaining public safety.

The proposed march places the opposition’s allegations about electoral processes and the government’s response to protests back in the spotlight. With the CJI declining a meeting and directing the leaders towards formal judicial proceedings, any further consideration of the issues raised will depend on the appropriate legal process.