In response to the march by the opposition to the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has refused to meet the Congress-led INDIA bloc of Opposition parties, asking them to file a petition instead, ahead of their planned march to the Supreme Court to hand over a memorandum to the CJI over alleged electoral fraud.
Sources reveal in his reply to the meeting request, the CJI said the issues they plan to raise are already sub judice, being heard in the Supreme Court.The court has no authority to meet a delegation of any political party at the administrative level in this way, and its power is in fact to hear the petition and give a verdict, the CJI is learnt to have said. He also said the doors of the Supreme Court, as the top judicial body, are “open 24 hours a day for all”, and it is “committed to protecting the fundamental rights of every citizen”.
The Delhi Metro has shut entry and exit at six metro stations till 4 pm due to “security” reasons. The fresh directive from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) came two days after the authorities shut down 45 metro stations in view of Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest.
The opposition on 11th October announced a protest march to the Supreme Court to intensify the agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Tejashwi Yadav are among INDIA bloc leaders who are expected to take part in the march, dubbed “Chalo Dilli” by Congress.
Congress top leaders 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.
A reasoned response explaining the grounds for the rejection has been sent to the Opposition leaders via email, people aware of the development said.
In it memorandum to the Chief Justice the opposition decides to detail the allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner and discuss the 2023 law that shields him from investigation or punishment after retirement.The memorandum will also address the exclusion of the Chief Justice from the selection process for the Chief Election Commissioner.
While opposition continues the battle on the streets it is also taking the legal route, questioning the law that provides immunity to Election Commissioners from any penal action.
In a statement in Bengaluru, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Modi-ji enacted a law in 2023 granting legal protection to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. They were given immunity not even enjoyed by the President of India or the Chief Justice of the country. But why was such special protection granted to an Election Commissioner?”
“It was after granting this protection that the entire process of vote theft, EVM manipulation, and electoral fraud began. No matter how many errors the CEC commits, they have been granted lifelong immunity from accountability for those actions,” he added.