Delhi protests not my domain, says CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday said the recent protests in Delhi were a law-and-order issue and not within his domain.

He also said the Supreme Court's doors were open to everyone, urging Opposition leaders to approach the court over electoral irregularities.

“This is a law-and-order issue. It is not my domain,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event marking the 33rd anniversary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Delhi.

The national capital has witnessed protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.

Over the weekend, more than 20,000 security personnel were deployed in Delhi ahead of a protest called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders. Forty-five metro stations were shut on Saturday, while intensive checks were conducted at the city's border points. Thousands of people, including CJP leaders and four former chief ministers, were detained during the demonstrations.

Responding to the INDIA bloc's request for a meeting, the CJI said he had received a letter and replied on Sunday night, explaining why he could not meet the Opposition leaders.

“The Supreme Court's doors are open to everyone. Any petition from any common citizen or member of an elected body is welcome. Every Indian citizen has the right to approach the court, and we will hear their concerns and grant whatever is due under the law,” he said.

In his letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, the CJI said the issues raised were already pending before the court.

“Therefore, convening a meeting to discuss pending cases would wholly contravene the principle of Separation of Powers, an intrinsic facet of the basic structure doctrine of the Constitution of India, and would be incompatible with the established ethics and judicial propriety,” he wrote.

He said similar matters were scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, October 13, and invited the leaders to file a petition through physical submission or e-filing.