Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant has clarified his decision not to meet opposition leaders personally, stating that the doors of the Supreme Court are always open to every citizen. He emphasised that anyone, whether an ordinary citizen or an elected member of Parliament or a state legislature, has the right to approach the court by following the prescribed legal procedure.
The clarification comes amid a request by opposition alliance leaders seeking a meeting with the Chief Justice over concerns related to the electoral process and the law governing the appointment of election commissioners. The leaders wanted to present their concerns before him. However, Justice Surya Kant expressed his inability to meet them personally and advised them to follow the formal legal process.
The CJI said that he had received a letter requesting a meeting. He explained that the letter was dated the previous day, but he had been away and therefore could not receive it earlier. According to his statement, he sent a written response the previous night and explained why a personal meeting would not be possible.
Justice Surya Kant stressed the importance of the established judicial process. He made it clear that anyone seeking the court's intervention must approach it through the appropriate legal channels. If an individual or group believes that its rights have been affected or that a matter requires judicial consideration, it can file a petition in accordance with the law.
The Chief Justice reiterated that every citizen has the right to approach the court. He said the judiciary considers concerns brought before it and grants whatever relief is justified under the law. His remarks underline the importance of using formal judicial procedures when seeking intervention in political, constitutional or public matters.
The opposition alliance had sought to raise concerns related to the electoral process and the law governing election commissioners. The request for a meeting with the CJI was made in this context. By directing the leaders towards the formal legal process rather than a personal meeting, the Chief Justice highlighted that requests for judicial relief must be presented through the appropriate legal framework.
The development has renewed discussion about the institutional role of the judiciary and its engagement with elected political representatives. The central point of the CJI's remarks was that the court is accessible to everyone, but cases must be considered according to the law and established procedure rather than through informal meetings. Anyone seeking relief must therefore establish an appropriate legal basis and follow the required process.
CJI Comments on One Nation, One Election
Justice Surya Kant also addressed the issue of the proposed One Nation, One Election initiative. He explained that concerns relating to a possible conflict of interest were among the factors behind the cancellation of a proposed visit by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to the Supreme Court. According to his remarks, the issue required careful consideration because certain aspects could raise questions about judicial impartiality.
The CJI said that he and his senior judicial colleagues had collectively felt that any situation involving a potential conflict of interest should be avoided. He added that this was why the administrative aspects of the matter had to be discussed. His comments highlighted the importance of protecting institutional neutrality and public confidence in the judiciary.
The One Nation, One Election proposal concerns holding elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies at the same time. The proposal has been the subject of political and constitutional debate. In matters of this nature, the role of the judiciary and the possibility of conflicts of interest require careful consideration to ensure that institutional impartiality is maintained.
Overall, Justice Surya Kant reiterated that the Supreme Court remains open to all citizens while explaining why he could not meet opposition leaders personally. His message was that access to justice is available to everyone, but requests for judicial relief must follow the prescribed legal process. On One Nation, One Election, he also underlined the importance of avoiding conflicts of interest and preserving judicial impartiality.
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