The story so far: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a request made by Opposition leaders for an audience to discuss allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s conduct during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, alongside detentions of peaceful protestors and lockdown of arterial Delhi.

The refusal was anchored in the ethos of maintaining a neutral distance from the political thicket. The CJI’s letter emphasised that the judiciary cannot blur constitutional lines.