New Delhi: The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has commented in the media on his recent refusal to meet with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. On Monday (October 12), the day of a massive Opposition-led protest against the election chief and the government of India over the special revision of voter lists, Kant said that he received a letter from both leaders and has given reasons why he cannot meet them.“I have expressed my inability to meet them,” he told mediapersons on Monday morning. He said the reporters could ask the leaders about the contents of his letter, since he had personally maintained its confidentiality.The CJI said he had responded in writing to the request from the two Congress leaders for a meeting with him.An important development related to the ongoing anti-SIR stir is that the Opposition parties are marching to the Supreme Court of India on Monday.The CJI wrote in the letter penned on Sunday night that the court was already hearing matters pertaining to the issues they wished to raise with him. He said the party leaders were free to approach the top court with their plea if they wished.Hours after the letter from the CJI, the Congress party filed its own plea in the top court, Live Law reports. The petition was filed through Supreme Court Advocate on Record S. Prasanna, it said.Kanti also told mediapersons, “The doors of the Supreme Court are open to all citizens of India, who have a right to come to us. Whatever someone is [entitled to], the court will certainly give them those rights,” he said.In a short response, CJI Kant wrote to both leaders that it would “wholly contravene” the principle of separation of powers to meet the Congress delegation. The leaders had said that they wanted to submit a memorandum to him.“At the very outset, it may be noted that the issues referred to hereinabove are already sub judice before the Supreme Court of India. Therefore, convening a meeting to discuss pending cases would wholly contravene the principle of Separation of Powers,” the CJI’s letter said.The Congress leaders had sought an appointment on Monday, October 12, between 4 pm and 5 pm. They said their memorandum had to do with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commission of India (ECI) and on the developments in the capital city on October 10 and 11 (when Delhi Police cracked down on protesters).They said they wanted to give the CJI a memorandum raising these issues and the closure of communication and travel services during protests against the CEC and the ECI and its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.“Incidentally, some matters highlighting similar issues are scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, 13.10.2026. If so advised, you may submit your petition on Monday, either physically at the Supreme Court of India, between 10:30 A.M. and 04:30 P.M., or alternatively, by utilising the e-filing option, which permits filing at any time and on any day. You have my assurance that any such petition shall be heard at the earliest possible opportunity, in accordance with the law.”The court heard petitions on Sunday during a special hearing and will do so on Tuesday (October 13), when a bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana has asked government agencies and authorities to respond to PILs related to alleged illegal detentions and denial of essential services, among other issues.(This story has been updated to add the Congress party’s decision to approach the top court in matters related to the protests against the CEC and the police crackdown on protests in Delhi.)