Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant addressed media queries regarding his decision to decline a meeting requested by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.
The senior opposition leaders had sought an audience to present a memorandum regarding electoral roll revisions and election management controversies.
Maintaining Letter Confidentiality and Protocol
Speaking after an event focused on human rights and access to water, the CJI noted that he received the correspondence a day prior and responded to it promptly. While maintaining the confidentiality of the letter’s exact contents, Justice Surya Kant noted that he had outlined specific grounds for his inability to host the delegation:
”I received the letter yesterday, so I replied to it last night. I have given some reasons in the letter on the basis of which I expressed my inability to meet him… I would request you to ask him about the contents of that letter. I have maintained its confidentiality.”
Reaffirming Access to Judicial Remedy
When asked how elected representatives and members of Parliament should advance institutional concerns, the CJI emphasized that the judiciary remains accessible to everyone via proper legal mechanisms:
- Equal Access: Justice Surya Kant underscored that the doors of the Supreme Court are open to all individuals, whether ordinary citizens or members of elected bodies.
- Judicial Process: Every citizen holds the constitutional right to approach the court through formal petitions, where grievances will be heard and evaluated in accordance with the law.
On separate administrative matters concerning judicial conflicts of interest and broader capital law-and-order updates, the CJI chose not to offer further commentary, leaving institutional focus strictly on scheduled judicial proceedings.
