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CJI Quips 'Wrong Number' to Man Seeking SC-ST Seat Rotation
✍️ TOI India
🗓 04 Nov 2026, 07:58 PM
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The Chief Justice of India made a sharp remark to a petitioner demanding the rotation of SC and ST reserved seats, stating he had dialed the wrong number.
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) delivered a pointed response to a petitioner who appeared before the Supreme Court seeking the implementation of a rotation system for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved seats. The petitioner argued for a systematic rotation of these categories to ensure equitable representation.
Addressing the individual, the CJI remarked that the petitioner had effectively 'dialed the wrong number,' indicating that the Supreme Court was not the appropriate forum for such a specific administrative or legislative demand. The Chief Justice's comment highlighted the distinction between judicial interpretation and policy-making regarding reservation mechanics.
The incident underscores the ongoing debates within India regarding the structure and fairness of the reservation system. While the petitioner sought a judicial mandate for rotation, the CJI's quip suggested that such structural changes typically fall under the purview of the legislature or executive bodies rather than the judiciary.
The exchange took place during a routine hearing, where the court often addresses various petitions related to public policy and administrative matters. The CJI's remark was noted by legal observers as a clear signal against using the Supreme Court as a platform for policy advocacy that lacks a direct legal remedy.
Addressing the individual, the CJI remarked that the petitioner had effectively 'dialed the wrong number,' indicating that the Supreme Court was not the appropriate forum for such a specific administrative or legislative demand. The Chief Justice's comment highlighted the distinction between judicial interpretation and policy-making regarding reservation mechanics.
The incident underscores the ongoing debates within India regarding the structure and fairness of the reservation system. While the petitioner sought a judicial mandate for rotation, the CJI's quip suggested that such structural changes typically fall under the purview of the legislature or executive bodies rather than the judiciary.
The exchange took place during a routine hearing, where the court often addresses various petitions related to public policy and administrative matters. The CJI's remark was noted by legal observers as a clear signal against using the Supreme Court as a platform for policy advocacy that lacks a direct legal remedy.