- CJI explained refusal to meet Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc.
- Advised opposition leaders to pursue formal legal procedures.
- Supreme Court doors open for all citizens' petitions.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday responded to questions about his decision to not meet Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders over the issue of the alleged electoral irregularities, saying he had conveyed his explanation in his letter to them.
He expressed his inability to meet with opposition leaders in person and advised them to pursue formal legal procedures.
"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," he said after attending an NHRC event.
Maintaining the confidentiality of the letter, he told the media to ask Rahul Gandhi about the content of the letter. "I would request you to ask him about the contents of that letter. I have maintained its confidentiality," he said.
On being asked about how the elected representatives should take their concerns forward, Surya Kant stressed the legal course, as the doors of the Supreme Court remained open to everyone.
"The doors of the Supreme Court are open to all. Anyone can approach us with a petition, whether an ordinary citizen or a member of an elected body," he said.
"Every citizen of India has the right to come to us. We will hear their problems in accordance with the law and ensure that they receive whatever relief they are entitled to," the CJI said.
On Sunday, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge wrote letters to the CJI seeking a meeting with him between 4 PM and 5 PM on Monday. They wanted to hand over a memorandum to the CJI, as they did in a meeting with the President a couple of days ago.
In their memorandum, they demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, an end to 'vote chori', halting the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter rolls and returning back to the paper ballot format.