Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Rejects Opposition Meeting, Schedules Hearings on SIR Petition and Journalist Allegation
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: CJI Surya Kant Declines Opposition Request and Sets Court Calendar
On October 10, 2026, Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Chief Justice Surya Kant requesting a meeting to submit a memorandum on alleged misconduct by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, arrests, Metro closures and train cancellations. The CJI replied on October 12, 2026, refusing the appointment, noting the matters were already *sub judice* and that a meeting would breach separation of powers. He directed the leaders to file a petition, which they did on the same day, creating a docket that includes the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and an application alleging Gandhi pushed a three-month-pregnant journalist during a protest march. The bench of CJI Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi listed the journalist’s application for hearing on October 26 (or 27) after the Dussehra recess.
Background & Context: The SIR Controversy and the October 12 March
The Election Commission’s SIR, launched in June 2025, seeks to delete ineligible entries from electoral rolls. Opposition parties claim mass deletions—14 crore names reported in June 2026 and 13 crore in earlier filings—without adequate notice, risking disenfranchisement ahead of elections. On October 12, 2026, Gandhi, Kharge and other INDIA-bloc leaders marched to the Supreme Court registry to file a writ petition demanding an independent audit and a suspension of the SIR.
Data & Statistics: Procedural Defects and Voter-Deletion Figures
- The Supreme Court registry flagged 14 procedural defects in the petition, including missing authorisation documents and a Rs 220 shortfall in court fees.
- Election Commission records show at least 14 formal objections by two commissioners over ten months concerning voter deletions; the Commission says the figures represent “absent, shifted, dead or duplicate” entries, not final deletions.
- The petition cites a September 23, 2026 report that Commission minutes reveal dissent by commissioners, contradicting the public claim of unanimity.
Official Statements & Responses
- CJI Surya Kant’s letter stressed that the Constitution does not give the Supreme Court administrative powers to “deal with the issues highlighted” and that any discussion must proceed through formal judicial channels.
- The Court issued notice to the Election Commission and its commissioners, stating “Nobody can browbeat the judiciary.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing before the bench, reported that journalist Richa Parashar—three months pregnant—claimed Gandhi pushed her inside the Supreme Court precincts, causing injury and hospitalization. Bhatia sought an FIR and preservation of CCTV footage.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The petition cites 14 crore deletions, while the Commission’s statements refer to “approximately 13 crore” marked for removal.
- Opposition leaders note two commissioners raised 14 formal objections, whereas the Commission frames these as routine deliberations, leaving the exact nature of dissent unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A female journalist was manhandled on the court premises,” — Gaurav Bhatia, senior advocate
- “Police can break bones. They cannot break a satyagraha. India's youth, especially young women, are fearless, determined and united. They are standing up for our democracy, and I stand with them,” — Rahul Gandhi
What’s Next: Upcoming Court Dates
The bench has scheduled the journalist’s application for October 26 (or 27) after the Dussehra recess. The SIR-related petition will be heard in subsequent sessions, with the Court expected to rule on the request for an independent audit and a possible interim suspension of the revision process.