NEW DELHI: The doors of the Supreme Court are open for everyone, Chief Justice Surya Kant underscored, but expressed his inability to meet the Opposition INDIA bloc over alleged electoral irregularities, stating that they should approach the court by filing a petition as the matter is already sub judice.
Intensifying their agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Opposition parties said they would march to the Supreme Court on Monday, with Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge seeking a meeting with Chief Justice Kant to raise the issue of alleged “vote chori”.
Both Gandhi and Kharge had written to the Chief Justice, seeking a meeting between 4 and 5 pm to hand over a memorandum, demanding an end to “vote chori”, Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, halting of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and switching back to the paper ballot format.
“I received a letter yesterday regarding a meeting request, and I responded to it last night, outlining the reasons why I will be unable to meet,” Chief Justice Surya Kant told reporters after NHRC’s 33rd Foundation Day function today.
“The Supreme Court’s doors are open to everyone. Any petition from any common citizen or member of an elected body is welcome. Every Indian citizen has the right to approach the court, and we will hear their concerns and grant whatever is due under the law,” he said.
The Chief Justice, in his response to Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, pointed out that the Supreme Court is not endowed with any administrative powers.
“Convening a meeting to discuss pending cases would wholly contravene the principle of separation of powers, an intrinsic facet of the basic structure of the Constitution and would be incompatible with the established ethics and judicial propriety,” the Chief Justice said in his response.
“It would thus be more appropriate on your part to invoke the judicial powers of the Supreme Court, instead of submitting a memorandum on the administrative side,” the Chief Justice added.
The Congress has termed Monday’s protest “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy”, for which the leaders are scheduled to converge at the Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road junction at 1.30 pm.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said the march to the Supreme Court would be taken out by Indians united beyond parties, gender, caste, community and state.
“Yesterday, the nation’s youth came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons. This is not the India we want.
“Tomorrow, we will march to the Supreme Court as Indians, united beyond party, gender, caste, community and state. Youth, all opposition parties, civil society groups, and all those who believe in democracy and stand by the Constitution of India will walk with us,” Gandhi said in the post.
On Friday, leaders of various opposition parties of the INDIA bloc marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk and later handed over a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu.
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