Congress likely to renew meeting request with CJI amid ongoing protests

The Congress is expected to renew its request for a meeting with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday. This follows an earlier rejection on Sunday night when the Chief Justice declined a request from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss concerns regarding the Chief Election Commissioner and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to reports, the Chief Justice stated that because similar matters are currently sub judice before the Supreme Court, no orders could be passed on the administrative side. He suggested that the party instead file a petition on the judicial side, which could be taken up by the court on Tuesday.Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had originally sought a meeting to submit a memorandum outlining several demands. These included calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, an end to the SIR process, and a transition back to the paper ballot voting system. The party leadership had intended to seek the Chief Justice's intervention regarding these electoral concerns.In the wake of the initial rejection, the Congress has indicated plans for further protests. Rahul Gandhi announced on the social media platform X that the "March for Democracy - Dilli Chalo" would commence from Barakhambha Road, urging citizens to gather at the site. Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge has voiced strong criticism regarding the police response to demonstrators in the national capital, comparing the current atmosphere to the period of the Emergency. Reports suggest the party’s correspondence with the Chief Justice also highlighted concerns regarding the alleged harassment of protesters and police crackdowns. As the situation develops, the focus remains on whether the judiciary will consider the party's formal petitions when they are presented.