In a dramatic late evening twist, Chief Justice of India Suryakant has declined to meet the Indian National Inclusive Development Alliance (INDIA) delegation which was scheduled to meet him over the alleged illegal detention and manhandling of peaceful protesters, journalists and lawyers during the 10th October anti-CEC agitation at Jantar Mantar and the subsequent assault on CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas at Connaught Place. Sources in Supreme Court registry said the Chief Justice declined on the ground that the judiciary cannot be seen to be meeting political delegations en masse and that the Supreme Court is already seized of the matter with a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana having passed a strong interim order on Sunday directing removal of all barricading, restoration of internet and metro services and issuing contempt notice to Delhi Police Commissioner, Union Home Secretary and DMRC, and with another petition listed tomorrow at 12 noon before a magistrate court for medical reports of detained protesters following arguments by Adv. Norma Alvares. Speaking briefly to reporters outside his court, CJI Suryakant said that anyone individually, party leader or common citizen can approach the Supreme Court for redressal of their grievances through due process of law and the doors of justice are open to all but institutional propriety demands that the Chief Justice does not meet political delegations collectively on a sub-judice issue. Meanwhile the INDIA bloc has announced that it will march to the Supreme Court of India tomorrow morning with hundreds of supporters, students, journalists and advocates despite denial of permission. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has given a fresh call to countrymen especially Delhiites to come in large numbers and join the march to save democracy, saying the assault on MP John Brittas who is now admitted in RML Hospital struggling to breathe after being choked and dumped by the roadside by central forces at Connaught Place while he was meeting students protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar is an attack on Parliament itself and shows that if an MP is not safe what will happen to 13.3 crore voters whose names have been deleted through SIR. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and other INDIA leaders are expected to join. The march is proposed from Mandi House to Supreme Court gate where they will submit a memorandum seeking independent judicial probe into 10th October crackdown, action against officers who assaulted women journalists including Rosy, and immediate suspension of SIR. Delhi Police sources said Section 163 BNSS continues in New Delhi district and they will not allow any march towards Supreme Court without permission citing law and order, traffic and the Supreme Court’s own observation that right to protest must be in accordance with Police Act, while CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after their release have said wherever police stops them will become their Jantar Mantar and Cockroach Janata Party will join the INDIA march.
