CJI Surya Kant Refuses Meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Asks Opposition to File Petition Over Election Commission Row

NEW DELHI — Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined a request by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge for an administrative meeting on Monday afternoon.The INDIA bloc leaders had sought an appointment between 4 pm and 5 pm to submit a memorandum demanding a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In an official email response communicated to the Congress leadership, CJI Surya Kant clarified that holding an administrative meeting on issues that are actively sub judice before the apex court would be inappropriate.The Chief Justice emphasized that the judiciary cannot intervene in state governance or government administrative functions through non-judicial channels, directing the opposition delegation to pursue relief through formal legal petitions instead.

Sub Judice Matters and Directives for Judicial Filings

The Chief Justice's refusal comes as the Supreme Court is already scheduled to hear a cluster of petitions regarding the controversial Special Intensive Revision exercise on Tuesday.Opposition leaders were informed that any fresh petition filed by political parties could be tagged and listed alongside the existing matters before the bench.

Key grounds detailed in the CJI's response:

• Sub Judice Constraint:Issues concerning the Election Commission's revision drive are currently pending before Supreme Court benches, making administrative dialogue improper.
• No Administrative Interference:The apex court cannot exercise its administrative role to dictate government policy or election management functions.
• Judicial Remedy Open:Opposition leaders remain fully entitled to file formal writ petitions to seek the protection of citizens' fundamental voting rights through judicial proceedings.

Opposition's Planned March to Supreme Court

The development precedes a planned protest march by INDIA bloc leaders and Members of Parliament toward the Supreme Court complex.Both Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge had publicly announced their intention to present a formal memorandum to the CJI after leading a demonstration against alleged large-scale voter roll deletions.

A bench headed by CJI Surya Kant had previously upheld the Election Commission's constitutional authority to conduct the Special Intensive Revision.However, the court remains seized of multiple petitions challenging specific administrative decisions of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.