New Delhi, Oct 12:
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined to meet Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court on Monday over alleged electoral irregularities, sources said.
The two leaders had sought an appointment between 4 pm and 5 pm on October 12 to submit a memorandum demanding an end to alleged “vote chori”, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a return to paper ballots.
According to sources, the CJI said the issues raised by the Opposition were already pending before the Supreme Court and should be pursued through judicial proceedings. He also indicated that the court could not intervene in the functioning of the executive through its administrative role.
The Congress has called the proposed protest “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy”, urging Opposition parties, young people and civil society groups to participate. The INDIA bloc had earlier submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu seeking action over its allegations of electoral irregularities. The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions follow statutory procedures.