Why did CJI Surya Kant refuse to meet Rahul Gandhi? Here's what he said

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday declined to disclose the reasons for refusing to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying he had kept the correspondence between them confidential. He, however, stressed that the Supreme Court remained accessible to every citizen, including elected representatives, who could approach it with their grievances.

The CJI was responding to questions about his decision to turn down a request from Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively, for a meeting between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday.

CJI says he has maintained confidentiality

Gandhi and Kharge had sought an appointment to hand over a memorandum demanding an end to alleged "vote chori", the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a return to paper ballots.

Explaining his response to the request, the CJI said he had received the letter on Sunday and replied the same night.

"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 speaking at an NHRC event focused on human rights and access to water.

When asked to share the reasons, Surya Kant declined to discuss the contents of the letter.

"I would request you to ask him about the contents of that letter. I have maintained its confidentiality," he said, speaking to ANI.

'Every citizen has the right to approach us'

Asked how elected representatives and MPs should raise their concerns, the CJI underlined that the Supreme Court was open to everyone, regardless of their position.

"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 added.

He declined to comment on the situation in Delhi and the protests, describing it as a law and order issue.

CJI explains decision on JPC's visit

Surya Kant also addressed the cancellation of the One Nation One Election Joint Parliamentary Committee's proposed visit to the Supreme Court, citing concerns over a possible conflict of interest.

"There are comparatively more grounds in this case because in that issue (One Nation One Election JPC meeting), there was a possibility of a conflict of interest arising in court, which led us to discuss the administrative side. My senior judicial colleagues and I shared the collective view that we should avoid any conflict of interest."