Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined a request from the Opposition for a meeting scheduled for Monday, October 12, 2026, during which they planned to present concerns over alleged irregularities in recent elections—referred to as “vote chori” or vote theft. Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, respectively the Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, had written to Chief Justice Kant seeking time between 4 and 5 PM to deliver a memorandum.
In their memorandum, they demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, called for the cessation of automated vote-recording mechanisms through SIR (Secure Internet Registry), and urged a return to paper ballots to ensure electoral integrity.
## CJI’s Response
According to sources, Chief Justice Surya Kant has decided **not** to meet the opposition leaders. He has sent an official response to their letter via email, though the contents of that response have not been made public.
## Opposition’s Proposed Protests
In reaction to the refusal, the opposition has called for a protest march to the Supreme Court. The march, dubbed “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy,” is set to begin at 1:30 PM Monday at the Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road junction.
Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stated the march would unite Indians across party lines, gender, caste, community, and state. “Yesterday, the nation’s young came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons. This is not the India we want,” he wrote. He encouraged “youth, all opposition parties, civil society groups, all those who believe in democracy and stand by the Constitution of India” to join.
Mallikarjun Kharge earlier told reporters in Bengaluru that he and Gandhi had formally sought a meeting with Chief Justice Surya Kant to obtain his intervention on the “vote chori” issue. Meanwhile, he criticized the current administration, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are responsible for nationwide turmoil. He pointed to extensive police deployment and arrests during recent protests as signs of a government deeply anxious about growing youth-led dissent.
## Background of Complaints and Opposition Action
On the previous Friday, leaders of the INDIA bloc marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk and handed over a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, outlining their concerns over vote theft and systemic electoral issues.
Kharge emphasized that their request to meet the Chief Justice was made with humility, “with folded hands,” intending only to make him aware of the situation—not to demand anything. He said the chaos allegedly caused by the government across the country includes an “undeclared emergency,” citing widespread protests and authoritarian responses to dissent.
## Implications for Electoral Trust and Democracy
The refusal of the CJI to grant a meeting to such high-profile leaders signals a significant standoff between the judiciary and leading opposition figures. It highlights the deep mistrust in electoral institutions, particularly the Election Commission of India, and exposes concerns over the erosion of democratic norms. The opposition’s insistence on stopping technologies like SIR and returning to paper ballots underscores a push for more transparent and verifiable voting methods. ■
This standoff also feeds into broader public grievances. Protesters argue that the state’s response to dissent—through detentions, police crackdowns, and tight security arrangements—is increasingly suppressive. For the opposition, such reactions are evidence of what they describe as “fear” within the government toward youth-driven civic activism.
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