New Delhi, October 15: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and others on a petition challenging their October 12 march to the apex court over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

“Nobody can browbeat the judiciary,” observed a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi while hearing allegations that the march was intended to intimidate the judiciary.

During the hearing, the petitioners informed the bench that around 200 lawyers had signed a memorandum raising concerns over what they described as attempts to exert pressure on the judiciary.

Responding to the submissions, CJI Surya Kant said the court was fully aware of statements made outside the courtroom as well as submissions made during judicial proceedings.

“We are not sitting in ivory towers. We know what statements they make outside and what they say in Court. We know everything,” the Chief Justice remarked.

The petition was filed by four advocates and named the Centre, the Indian National Congress and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, among others, as respondents. It challenged the march to the Supreme Court on October 12, during which opposition leaders sought to submit a plea highlighting alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise.

The petition also sought contempt proceedings against the Kerala unit of the Congress over remarks allegedly directed at the Chief Justice of India. However, the bench declined to issue notice to the Kerala Congress unit on this aspect of the plea.

According to the petitioners, the Kerala Congress unit and Mahua Moitra had criticised the CJI and called for his resignation.

The case brings into focus the controversy surrounding the SIR exercise, opposition leaders’ efforts to raise concerns over the process before the Supreme Court, and allegations that the march could undermine the independence and authority of the judiciary.