Supreme Court pulls up Rahul Gandhi over march, issues notice to Election Commission on SIR

The Supreme Court made it clear on Thursday that the country's judicial institutions will not yield to street agitation or political theatre, rebuking Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi over a protest march to the court complex while agreeing to examine petitions concerning voter roll revisions.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued formal notices to the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The notices seek formal replies to a petition filed by Mr Gandhi and other leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc concerning the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists.

While agreeing to hear the legal questions state by state, the court firmly pushed back against political mobilisations aimed at the judiciary itself.

'Nobody can browbeat the judiciary'

The bench took strong exception to events on 12 October, when Mr Gandhi led a march to the Supreme Court building to present his petition, resulting in significant commotion as crowds entered the court precincts before the registry closed. Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia placed a memorandum signed by around 200 lawyers before the court, highlighting how the protest disrupted institutional decorum.

Chief Justice Kant rejected any notion that such gatherings could influence judicial determinations.

"Nobody can browbeat the judiciary," Chief Justice Kant said. "These are feeble attempts that nobody takes note of. We are not sitting in an ivory tower. We are aware of things."

Turning to senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared alongside senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for the opposition petitioners, the Chief Justice noted that Mr Gandhi’s conduct would require an explanation at the next hearing.

"Issuing notice does not mean that we are condemning anything," the Chief Justice observed. "We would like to ask one of the petitioners about his conduct on the next date of hearing."

Petitions on voter lists and protest sites

The opposition petition alleges that the SIR exercise arbitrarily deleted approximately 13 crore names from electoral rolls nationwide and seeks the disclosure of internal commission records, agendas, and minutes. A separate challenge was also brought by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stressed that proceedings inside the court should remain detached from street politics, calling political processions directly targeting the court unacceptable.

Alongside the election petitions, the bench issued notice to the Centre and Delhi Police regarding the recent denotification of Jantar Mantar as an agitation venue. Delhi Police designated three alternative grounds—Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground—following disruptions during earlier demonstrations. Solicitor General Mehta submitted that the relocation followed a comprehensive committee inquiry to maintain capital security and public order, with the bench noting it will review whether authorities applied due administrative deliberation.