CJI: No meet with Congress, it'll violate 'separation of power'
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a meeting request from Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi regarding allegations of election irregularities. The CJI stated that such a meeting would violate the separation of powers and advised the party to file a formal petition for judicial adjudication.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between political opposition and the judiciary, reinforcing the constitutional boundaries of the Supreme Court's role in Indian democracy.
NEW DELHI: CJI Surya Kant Sunday declined requests from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi, who wanted to meet him Monday to apprise him about "vote chori" allegations amid protests in Delhi seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.In an email response, the CJI said similar issues were already pending adjudication before Supreme Court and a meeting on the issue raised by the netas would "contravene the iconic principles of separation of power, which is part of the basic structure of Constitution", sources in the CJI office told TOI.The response said SC was not endowed with any administrative power in this regard and only had an adjudicatory role under Constitution. It said the party or any of its functionaries could file a petition highlighting their grievances and the court was bound to adjudicate it.
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