KPCC apologises to Chief Justice after unauthorised X post demanded his resignation

KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee has formally apologised to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for a post on its official X account that called for the chief justice to step down. The notice followed a legal notice from Supreme Court advocate Meneesh Dubey. Joseph explained that the post was uploaded by party worker Vijay Thottathil without any prior clearance from the party leadership. Thottathil has been stripped of his digital duties and instructed to make a public apology, a step separate from the party’s own apology, Joseph added. The committee condemned the wording of the message, stating that asking for the chief justice’s resignation and suggesting a replacement was unsuitable for an official party channel. KPCC reiterated its commitment to the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary and the dignity of the chief justice’s office, saying the content did not reflect the party’s official stance. The party said it will review the procedures that govern access to its X account, the authority given to those who manage it, and the approval steps for official communications. It will examine who drafted, reviewed and posted the message, the device and permission settings used, and retain all relevant electronic logs and internal communications. Joseph noted that hiring an external agency for digital work does not remove the need for internal oversight. The controversial post appeared after Justice Surya Kant declined a request from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc for a meeting.

Context

The incident highlights how political parties in India must balance active social‑media engagement with strict internal checks to avoid breaching constitutional norms. It also underscores the sensitivity surrounding any public commentary on the judiciary, which is expected to remain free from partisan pressure.