Nobody Can Browbeat Judiciary: Supreme Court Pulls Up Rahul Gandhi

'Nobody Can Browbeat Judiciary': Supreme Court Pulls Up Rahul Gandhi Over INDIA Bloc's Anti-CEC Protest

CJI Surya Kant said nobody can browbeat the judiciary after a lawyer raised concerns during the Supreme Court hearing on Rahul Gandhi's SIR plea against the ECI.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Thursday said that nobody can “browbeat" the judiciary after senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia raised concerns over the alleged attempt to influence the Supreme Court amid proceedings on petitions related to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

“Fragile attempts, nobody takes notice," CJI Surya Kant said after Bhatia referred to the concerns of lawyers over what he described as an attempt at “browbeating" the judiciary.

The CJI added that the court was aware of developments outside its premises and was not sitting in an “ivory tower".

The remarks came during a hearing before a bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, which was hearing multiple petitions, including one filed by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leaders from other INDIA bloc parties challenging the ECI’s decisions related to the SIR exercise.

Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia told the court that it was unacceptable for the Supreme Court to be confronted with political processions and referred to the concerns expressed by lawyers over the developments.

He said that around 200 lawyers had signed a memorandum highlighting the issue.

“What has happened in the Supreme Court is unprecedented," Bhatia said. Referring to the concerns raised by lawyers, he said that such conduct amounted to an attempt at “browbeating" the judiciary.

“Nobody can browbeat," CJI Surya Kant responded.

Bhatia subsequently submitted that the attempt itself was worrying. The CJI, however, said that such attempts were fragile and would not attract the court’s attention.

SC Issues Notice On Rahul Gandhi’s Plea Against ECI

During the hearing, the Supreme Court issued notices on petitions challenging decisions taken by the ECI in connection with the SIR process. The bench also indicated that one of the petitioners would be asked to explain his conduct.

“We are issuing notice in 24 and 25. Tagging with pending cases. But we would like to ask one of the petitioners about his conduct," CJI Surya Kant said while addressing the matters listed before the court.

The petition filed by Gandhi, Kharge and other Opposition leaders questioned the functioning of the Election Commission in relation to the SIR exercise. The petitioners sought judicial scrutiny of the poll body’s decision-making process and the production of records relating to the exercise.

Among their key demands were an independent audit of voter deletions and modifications, greater transparency in electoral-roll revisions, and safeguards to ensure that no eligible voter’s name is removed without notice and an opportunity to be heard.

The petition also sought suspension of the SIR exercise across states while the matter remains pending before the court.

The Supreme Court issued notices to the ECI, the Chief Election Commissioner and other authorities in the matters.

Court Directs Preservation Of CCTV Footage

Separately, the bench addressed petitions concerning protests in Delhi, including allegations of police excesses, detentions and restrictions imposed around demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The court directed law enforcement agencies to preserve CCTV footage and other digital material collected in connection with the protests. Private parties were also given the liberty to submit relevant material.

“All law enforcement agencies directed to preserve CCTV or any other digital footage/material collected by them," the order stated, according to the hearing updates.

The direction followed submissions by lawyers seeking preservation of footage relating to the alleged use of force during the protests. Senior advocate Indira Jaising had stressed that a judicial order was necessary to ensure the material was preserved.

The bench also heard submissions concerning the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site. Justice Bagchi said the court would examine whether there had been an application of mind regarding the site’s use and efficacy.

The hearing covered several petitions relating to protests, restrictions on demonstrations and the SIR exercise, with the bench indicating that related matters would be heard together where appropriate.