CJI Surya Kant declines Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge’s meeting request over SIR and CEC concerns, advising a formal court petition.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined a request from opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for a meeting concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged electoral irregularities, according to reports published on Sunday night. The leaders had sought an appointment for Monday, October 12.
The proposed meeting was intended to raise concerns about voter-list revision and the functioning of the Election Commission of India. Opposition parties have also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid their allegations of “vote chori”, or vote theft. These remain allegations raised by the opposition.
According to reports, the CJI indicated that the issues were already under consideration before the Supreme Court, making such a meeting inappropriate. He advised the leaders to approach the court through a formal petition instead. The refusal concerns the requested meeting; it does not constitute a judicial decision on the merits of their allegations.
The development comes ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court on October 12. Rahul Gandhi had announced that opposition leaders and supporters would march to submit a memorandum outlining their concerns about electoral processes and seeking intervention.
The CJI’s response leaves the formal judicial route available to the opposition, even as its planned political mobilisation continues.
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