Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Sunday declined a request from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for a meeting over the ongoing row surrounding the voters list and the Election Commission, saying the matter is already before the top court and should be pursued through judicial proceedings.
The request came as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organised protests in Delhi on October 10, demanding Kumar’s resignation. Nearly 4,000 people were detained in Delhi, including students, journalists and civil society members. Addressing a press conference at the Indira Bhawan headquarters of the Congress, he also asked the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar to turn approver and resign as the Opposition’s fight was against the bigger powers that were behind him. The Congress has been seeking Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
He also said the top court does not have administrative powers to deal with issues raised by the Congress leaders, though it is duty-bound to consider matters affecting citizens’ rights through its judicial jurisdiction. He said the court remains committed to protecting the fundamental rights of every citizen and that people are entitled to seek enforcement of those rights through procedure established by law. “ Rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said a proper procedure has to be followed to meet the CJI. “All that the Congress is doing is drama,” he said.
Party leaders had sought an appointment between 4pm and 5pm on Monday to submit a memorandum concerning the functioning of the Election Commission, the alleged arbitrary arrest of students, the closure of metro stations and the cancellation of trains.
