Politics · India · 3 hrs ago
India’s chief justice declines meeting request from Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge
India’s Chief Justice, Surya Kant, declined a meeting request from opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
They wanted to raise allegations of election irregularities and ask for changes including a halt to a voter-list review and a return to paper ballots.
Kant said the matter is already before the Supreme Court, where he is leading the bench hearing it, so he could not address it administratively.
The leaders can instead submit an application through the court’s judicial process, which could be considered on Tuesday.
The request came ahead of an opposition march planned in Delhi to protest over alleged “vote theft.”
Delhi police imposed restrictions, closed some metro stations and limited internet access, according to the account.
The dispute matters because it concerns claims about election integrity and voting rights, but the allegations have not been established here.
India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant declined a meeting request from opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge over allegations of election irregularities.
He said the matter is before the Supreme Court and cannot be addressed administratively.
The leaders had sought intervention over alleged vote theft, voter-list revisions and the use of paper ballots.
They were also seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Congress leaders were advised they could file an application in court, which might be considered on Tuesday.
- Who
- Chief Justice Surya Kant declined a meeting request from Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, the opposition leaders in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
- What
- He rejected their request to discuss allegations of election irregularities and related demands.
- When
- He responded by email on Sunday. The leaders had requested a meeting for Monday evening.
- Where
- The request was for a meeting with the Chief Justice of India; the matter is before the Supreme Court.
- Why
- The Chief Justice said the matter was under judicial consideration and could not be handled administratively.
Congress leaders
Chief Justice Surya Kant
Meeting request
Congress leaders
Gandhi and Kharge sought a meeting to present their concerns about alleged election irregularities.
Chief Justice Surya Kant
Kant declined, saying the matter was before the court and could not be addressed administratively.
Next steps
Congress leaders
The leaders could pursue their concerns through a court application.
Chief Justice Surya Kant
Kant said an application could be filed in the judicial division, where it might be considered on Tuesday.
Yesterday, the country's youth took to the streets in Delhi to protest peacefully. There was love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. But the police and BJP workers attacked them. This is not the India we want.
Rahul Gandhi referred to young people protesting peacefully in Delhi and alleged that police and BJP workers attacked them.
Surya Kant responded by email, declining the meeting request because the matter was before the court.
Gandhi and Kharge had requested a meeting with the Chief Justice between 4 and 5 p.m.
A court application from the Congress leaders might be considered, according to sources cited in the article.
- Chief Justice
- Surya Kant
- Requesting leaders
- Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge
- Meeting request
- Monday, 4–5 p.m.
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Proposed court step
- An application might be considered on Tuesday
Sources
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