A major political controversy has erupted following a social media post by the Kerala unit of the Congress party regarding the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. The post, which demanded the resignation of the CJI, has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the legal fraternity. BJP leaders have accused the Congress of attempting to intimidate the judiciary and undermine constitutional institutions. The controversy highlights the growing friction between the opposition and the judicial and electoral bodies of the country.
The Controversial Social Media Post
The Kerala unit of the Congress party took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express its displeasure with the Chief Justice. In a direct message, the party wrote, "Dear Surya Kant, if law and order isn't your jurisdiction, resign now. " This blunt demand for the resignation of the highest judicial officer in the country immediately went viral, leading to a massive political backlash. Following the intense criticism and the ensuing row, the Kerala Congress eventually deleted the post from its social media handle.
Context of the Resignation Demand
The demand for the CJI's resignation was reportedly in response to a statement made by CJI Surya Kant. The Chief Justice had remarked that the matter of law and order wasn't in his hands. This observation came amidst unprecedented security restrictions imposed by the Delhi Police in the national capital. These restrictions were put in place in response to ongoing protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The Congress party and its allies have been vocal about their concerns regarding the functioning of the Election Commission, leading to the current standoff.
Kiren Rijiju Attacks Congress
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju reacted strongly to the Kerala Congress's post. Sharing the post, Rijiju stated that he had previously warned that the Congress party's next target would be the judiciary. He alleged that the Congress party aims to destroy all constitutional and democratic institutions in India, while rijiju further claimed that all "anti-India gangs" are joining hands and called upon patriotic Indians to unite against such moves. He emphasized that while protesting is a right of every citizen, the open abuse of constitutional authorities is highly condemnable. Rijiju also took a swipe at the Congress leadership, suggesting that the party lacks direction and needs a mature leader who doesn't spend 200 holidays a year.
BJP Terms it an Insult to the Constitution
" He stated that the demand for the CJI's resignation is a massive insult to the Constitution of India. Bhandari accused the Congress of threatening the Chief Justice of India and suggested that the party believes the Gandhi-Vadhra family is above the Constitution. He further alleged that the Congress party harbors hatred towards Indian democracy and independent constitutional institutions. This reaction follows a move by the INDIA block leaders, led by the Congress, who approached the Supreme Court against the Election Commission. They filed a petition against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, followed by a march against the commission.
Supreme Court Bar Association Issues Condemnation
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has officially condemned the social media statements demanding the resignation of the Chief Justice of India. The association described such demands as an attempt to diminish the dignity of the judiciary and the reputation of the judicial institution. In a resolution issued by the SCBA, it was stated that while every individual has the right to approach the court and seek legal remedies according to the law, such statements undermine the institution of the judiciary and represent an attempt to interfere in the administration of justice. The resolution, issued by SCBA Honorary Secretary Pragya Baghel, appealed to all members and individuals to maintain the dignity and decorum of the Supreme Court of India.