On Monday, October 12, 2025, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant turned down a request from Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other opposition figures to meet him. The leaders had sought an audience to discuss allegations of electoral irregularities, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and recent police action in Delhi. According to sources, the CJI explained that the issues they wished to raise were already sub judice before the Supreme Court, meaning they were under active judicial consideration.
During the brief exchange, the CJI emphasized that, under the constitutional scheme, the Supreme Court does not possess administrative powers to interfere with the functioning of the government. He told the Congress delegation that the Court’s role is judicial, not administrative, and therefore it cannot issue directives on matters of governance through its administrative side.
Building on that point, the CJI clarified that the Supreme Court cannot pass directions on the issues raised by the opposition via its administrative side. He stressed that any attempt to influence government functioning through the Court’s administrative channel would be beyond its constitutional mandate.
The CJI mentioned that any new petitions from the Congress leaders could be heard alongside those existing cases.
While refusing to engage administratively, the CJI made clear that the Congress leaders were free to approach the Supreme Court on its judicial side. He indicated that if they wished to challenge the alleged electoral irregularities or related actions, they could file petitions that would be heard like any other case.
#BREAKING CJI Surya Kant Declines LoP Rahul Gandhi's Request For Meeting Over SIR & CEC https://t.co/KN1wDIxRsY
Sources noted that similar matters—concerning the alleged electoral irregularities, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the recent police action in Delhi—were already slated for hearing before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, October 13, 2025. The CJI mentioned that any new petitions from the Congress leaders could be heard alongside those existing cases.
The CJI did not express a view on the Opposition's proposed march to the Supreme Court regarding those same issues. He refrained from endorsing or criticizing the planned demonstration, keeping his stance strictly procedural.
A day ahead of the Opposition’s planned march to the Supreme Court on Monday (October 12, 2026), Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant has rejected the INDIA bloc leaders’ request for a meeting. https://t.co/QaGN9XQaBb
Finally, the Congress leaders had intended to submit a memorandum to the CJI during the requested meeting, outlining their concerns about electoral processes and police conduct. Because the meeting did not take place, the memorandum was not delivered in that forum, though the CJI noted they could still present their concerns through judicial petitions.
