CJI Denies Claims of Rejecting Protest Plea Amid Controversy

On Friday, Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, addressed the media regarding allegations that he had declined to list a plea concerning police actions against student demonstrators. He categorically dismissed these claims as 'completely false.' During an open court session, the Chief Justice clarified that no formal writ petition had been submitted to the Supreme Court on this matter. Instead, he explained that the only document presented was a letter representation from a lawyer, which does not qualify as a formally filed petition. This clarification came in response to widespread media reports that inaccurately suggested he had refused to hear the case.

Justice Kant emphasized that a representation cannot be equated with a writ petition unless it follows the proper filing procedures. He expressed his dismay over the media's portrayal of the situation, labeling the coverage as 'irresponsible and reckless.' He stated, 'In the last two days, a completely false statement was made that a matter was filed, and the media is absolutely free from all responsibility, falsely reporting that the Chief Justice refused to list the matter.' He further pointed out that as of 10 AM that morning, no formal documents had been submitted, only a representation from a lawyer named Mishra. The Chief Justice questioned how such a representation could be treated as a writ petition and criticized the media for their reckless reporting on the issue.