INDIA Bloc March Stopped 600 m From Supreme Court; Rahul Gandhi's SIR Plea Filedਇੰਡੀਆ ਗੱਠਜੋੜ ਦਾ ਮਾਰਚ ਸੁਪਰੀਮ ਕੋਰਟ ਤੋਂ 600 ਮੀਟਰ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਰੁਕਿਆ; ਰਾਹੁਲ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਦੀ ਐੱਸਆਈਆਰ ਪਟੀਸ਼ਨ ਦਾਇਰ

The INDIA bloc's "March for Democracy" to the Supreme Court was stopped by police barricades near Bhagwan Das Road, about 600 metres from the court, on Monday, October 12, 2026. Rahul Gandhi's lawyers then filed a writ petition in the apex court against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's conduct at the centre of the opposition's protest.

What happened to the march?

Led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav and Left leaders, thousands of workers and activists walked from the Barakhamba Road junction and brought Mandi House and nearby stretches to a standstill, Zee News reported. Police had put up barricades along the route, and the procession could go no further than Bhagwan Das Road. Mint reported that the crowd returned from Mandi House at around 6 pm.

How did the petition reach the Supreme Court?

The court's registry accepts physical filings only until 4.30 pm. Because Gandhi could not reach the court in time, his lawyer S. Prasanna filed the plea on his behalf, ANI reported, and Gandhi's team also asked the registry for an extension for an in-person writ filing. The petition challenges the SIR and names the Election Commission among its respondents, Mint reported, citing LiveLaw. It asks the court to summon the records behind the commission's decisions and order an independent probe into voter deletions.

The petitioners include Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Sanjay Raut, M.A. Baby, D. Raja and Supriya Sule, along with leaders of the Trinamool Congress, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Indian Union Muslim League, Scroll reported. The plea is likely to be heard on Tuesday, October 13, Mint said.

Why did the Chief Justice decline a meeting?

Chief Justice Surya Kant turned down Gandhi and Kharge's request for a meeting on Monday afternoon. LiveLaw reported that he said the questions on the voter roll revision and the Chief Election Commissioner were already pending before the court and it would be inappropriate to take up sub judice matters. He added that the court cannot intervene in the executive's functioning on its administrative side, but the leaders could approach it judicially under Article 32.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

At a press conference before the march, Gandhi said Kumar would "not survive as the election commissioner" and urged him to resign and "turn approver", saying the opposition was after the people who pushed him into the alleged mistake. He claimed 200 officers in central agencies and ministries were in touch with the opposition. The BJP has defended the Election Commission, pointing to statements by Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Himanta Biswa Sarma that reject the voter-deletion allegations, India Today reported.

Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh, who took charge only the day before, told ANI the BJP was shielding Kumar. MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring urged the Chief Justice to meet the delegation.

What else changed in Delhi on Monday?

Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites under a Sunday order, Scroll reported, quoting ANI. The order names Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in Shahdara as alternatives. The Delhi High Court is due to hear a plea against the Jantar Mantar closure on October 13, India Today reported. Entry and exit at six central Delhi Metro stations, shut from 6 am, reopened later in the day.

Protests against Kumar have run since October 2. On Sunday, Delhi Police detained more than 700 people, Hindustan Times reported via Scroll, and protesters were also detained in Bengaluru on Monday, The Hindu reported.

Why is the opposition targeting Gyanesh Kumar?

The opposition alleges the SIR is deleting genuine voters and calls it "vote chori". Protests grew after an Indian Express report that Kumar took several SIR decisions despite objections from two other Election Commissioners, Mint reported. These are the opposition's allegations; the Election Commission has not accepted them.

When will the Supreme Court hear the opposition's SIR petition?

Reports say the petition is likely to be heard on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, along with related SIR matters already before the court. A listing has not been officially confirmed in the reports we checked.

Where was the INDIA bloc march stopped?

Police barricades stopped the march at Bhagwan Das Road in central Delhi, around 600 metres from the Supreme Court.

Is Jantar Mantar still a protest site?

No. A Delhi Police order reported by ANI removed Jantar Mantar from the designated protest sites and named Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground instead.