The Supreme Court has issued notices to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders on a petition seeking restrictions on political demonstrations inside court premises. The plea challenges the march undertaken by opposition leaders towards the Supreme Court and their entry into the court registry on October 12 to submit a petition concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee and others. The petition was filed by four lawyers who argued that political demonstrations within court premises could interfere with the administration of justice and create pressure on courts in matters pending adjudication.
Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia questioned the circumstances that led to a political procession reaching the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that nobody could browbeat the Supreme Court and directed the preservation of CCTV footage and other digital evidence relating to the October 12 incident.
The bench also remarked on attempts to exert pressure through such actions, while issuing notices seeking responses from the concerned political leaders and organisations. The petitioners have maintained that court premises must remain free from political mobilisation that could undermine judicial independence or disrupt judicial proceedings.
The march was organised by INDIA bloc leaders to protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The development came on the same day that the Supreme Court issued notice to the Election Commission of India on a separate petition filed by Rahul Gandhi and 12 other INDIA bloc leaders challenging the SIR exercise.
The CJI-led bench indicated that it would examine the conduct of one of the petitioners at the next hearing. It also directed that the petition challenging the SIR exercise be tagged with other pending petitions questioning the validity of the electoral roll revision in various states.
The proceedings raise questions about maintaining discipline within court premises, protecting the independence of the judiciary and ensuring that political protests do not interfere with the administration of justice. The Supreme Court will consider the responses of the concerned parties in the further proceedings.
