We are not in an ivory tower & can’t be browbeaten: CJI on opposition plea

The Supreme Court issued notices to the Election Commission and other election commissioners on a petition filed by the INDIA bloc led by Rahul Gandhi. The petition alleged irregularities in the SIR process, the deletion of voters in an arbitrary manner, the undemocratic functioning of the poll panel, and flaws in the EVM use. The court also took notice of other petitions questioning the SIR process in various states, but clarified that it would address them state-wise.

Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia revealed that a petition had been filed with a memorandum signed by 200-odd lawyers against Rahul Gandhi for bringing his supporters to the Supreme Court premises on October 12 to file the petition and intimidate the judiciary. Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized that the court would not be intimidated by such attempts and noted that lawyers sometimes express dissatisfaction with the judiciary in public but praise it in private.

The hearing began with senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi arguing for Rahul Gandhi and other politicians on alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's collective decision-making, but was interrupted by senior advocate Kapil Sibal.