Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Thursday clarified that the Supreme Court had not refused to hear a petition challenging the alleged police action against protesting students at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, stating that media reports suggesting otherwise were inaccurate.
Addressing the issue, Chief Justice Kant said the Supreme Court had only insisted that the petition be filed in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure before it could be taken up for hearing.
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“It was incorrectly reported that the Supreme Court declined to hear the petition. The Supreme Court can never refuse to hear a matter. It is my commitment that we remain available round the clock,” the Chief Justice said.
Explaining the sequence of events, CJI Kant noted that the petition had not been formally filed when an urgent hearing was sought. He said the petitioners had approached the court with only a one-page letter, which did not meet the procedural requirements necessary for listing the matter.
“If the petition itself has not been filed, there is nothing for the court to hear. They must follow the proper filing process. I advised them to submit the petition correctly, but they insisted on an immediate hearing. That is why I stressed the need to first comply with the court’s established procedures,” he said.
The Chief Justice further stated that once the petition was submitted in the prescribed format, the Supreme Court readily accepted it for consideration.
Emphasising the importance of due process, CJI Kant said that the rule of law must always be upheld. He also reassured citizens that the apex court remains committed to ensuring justice within the framework of the law.
“I want to assure the people of this country that the Supreme Court will do everything within its legal powers to deliver justice to anyone who has suffered any form of injustice,” he said.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
