CJI denies meeting Congress delegation as Opposition presses ahead with Supreme Court march

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined a request from the Congress party for a meeting to submit a memorandum regarding electoral roll revisions and the Chief Election Commissioner. In his reply, the CJI noted that the grievances raised by the Opposition are already pending before the court. He also stated that under the constitutional scheme, the court lacks the power to take cognisance of such matters on the administrative side. However, the CJI pointed out that the court holds the power of judicial review under Article 32, adding that if a petition is filed on Monday, it will be taken up for hearing the following day alongside pending matters. He reaffirmed the court's commitment to protecting citizen rights and stated its doors remain open.

March Plans

Hours before the decision, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi issued a Chalo Dilli call for a march to the Supreme Court. The march is set to begin at 1.30 pm from the Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road junction and conclude at the Supreme Court two kilometres away. Gandhi urged students, civil society groups, and Opposition parties to join the protest. He stated in a video message that participants would submit a memorandum demanding an end to vote theft, the halting of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Gandhi accused the police and BJP goons of beating peaceful protesters and asserted that the protesters would not be intimidated.

Opposition Mobilisation

Following a police crackdown on student groups gathering at Jantar Mantar, the Opposition plans to mobilise workers from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Left parties from neighbouring states. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the Opposition only wants to place its concerns before the CJI with folded hands and request his intervention. Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of creating countrywide chaos and declared that an undeclared Emergency is prevailing. INDIA bloc MPs, along with leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, P Sandosh Kumar, M A Baby, and John Brittas, are expected to join the protest. Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien and senior Congress leader K C Venugopal also criticised the police crackdown on protesters and the detention of journalists.

Context

This development follows an earlier meeting on October 9 where INDIA bloc MPs met President Droupadi Murmu to voice concerns about the electoral roll revision and the Election Commission. Protests and demands for the CEC's resignation have continued in Delhi over preceding days amid clashes and detentions involving police and demonstrators.