Kerala Pradesh Congress Committe apologises to CJI for post on X

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has tendered an unconditional apology to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant over a post on its official ‘X’ account.

Replying to a legal notice issued by Supreme Court lawyer Meneesh Dubey, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the post was published by Vijay Thottathil without prior approval or consultation with the KPCC leadership. “Neither I nor the leadership had authorised him to demand the resignation of the Hon’ble Chief Justice or to suggest that the organisation would find a replacement.”

Mr. Thottathil, Mr. Joseph said, had been removed from the position concerned and asked to issue a public apology. The KPCC apology was independent of the public apology sought from Mr. Thottathil, Mr. Joseph clarified.

The KPCC disapproved of the language employed in the post, he said. “The demand for resignation and the suggestion of finding a replacement for the Hon’ble Chief Justice were inappropriate and should not have appeared on an official party platform.”

The KPCC underscored its respect for the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary, and the constitutional office of the Chief Justice of India, saying the post did not represent the policy, considered opinion, or authorised position of the KPCC and that of the Indian National Congress.

The KPCC, Mr. Joseph said, had repudiated and withdrawn the statements in question.

Even though the post was not authorised, the incident required “an examination of the arrangements governing access to the account, the authority entrusted to its operators and the approval procedures applicable to official communications,” the KPCC said.

The examination would address the drafting, review, and publication of the post; the persons involved at each stage; the account permissions and devices used; and any relevant prior instructions or internal correspondence. Relevant electronic records, access logs, approval records, and internal communications would be preserved. “The operational involvement of an external professional agency in the KPCC’s digital communications does not dispense with the need for effective oversight,” Mr. Joseph said.

The KPCC recognised the distinction between reasoned criticism of judicial decisions and language that fails to maintain the dignity expected of public discourse.

The reply denied any suggestion that the KPCC president had directed, approved or endorsed the post. At the same time, it accepted the need to examine the failure of the KPCC communication controls and take appropriate measures against recurrence.

The message on ‘X’ was posted apparently in response to Justice Surya Kant declining a request by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc leaders for a meeting.