Kerala Congress Apologises to CJI Surya Kant Over X Post

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has tendered an unconditional apology to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant over a controversial post published on the official X account of the party’s Kerala unit. The party said the post was shared without authorisation and did not reflect its official position, policy or considered opinion.

In its response to a legal notice issued by the Supreme Court Bar Association, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said neither the party leadership nor the state unit’s president had approved the post. He also stated that the person responsible for publishing it had been removed.

The controversy arose after the Kerala Congress account published a post on October 12 demanding the CJI’s resignation and suggesting that the organisation would find a replacement. The post was subsequently withdrawn, and the Supreme Court Bar Association took up the matter through a legal notice to Joseph.

In its reply, the KPCC expressed respect for the Constitution, judicial independence and the constitutional office of the Chief Justice of India. The party also acknowledged shortcomings in its oversight of digital communications and said it would review how its official social media accounts are managed.

Kerala Congress Issues Unconditional Apology to CJI Surya Kant

The KPCC has formally apologised to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant following the publication of the controversial post on its official X handle. In its response to the legal notice, the party made clear that the remarks demanding the CJI’s resignation were not authorised by its leadership.

Sunny Joseph, who heads the KPCC and is also the state electricity minister, said the post had been published without the prior knowledge, approval or consultation of the party leadership.

The reply stated that the expressions reproduced in the notice did not represent the organisation’s official position. The party also reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional principles and the independence of the judiciary.

“The expressions reproduced in the notice do not represent the policy, considered opinion or authorised position of the KPCC,” Joseph said in his reply.

The apology was accompanied by an explanation that the post had not been approved through the party’s authorised decision-making process. The KPCC said its leadership had disapproved of the publication and expressly withdrawn the statements in question.

The party described the remarks as inappropriate and acknowledged that they should not have appeared on an official organisational platform.

What Did the Controversial X Post Say?

The controversy began on October 12, when the Kerala Congress’s official X account published a post demanding the resignation of CJI Surya Kant. The post also suggested that the organisation would find a replacement for him.

The remarks prompted a response from the Supreme Court Bar Association, which subsequently issued a legal notice to KPCC president Sunny Joseph. The post was later withdrawn from the party’s account.

In its response to the notice, the KPCC distanced itself from the content and said the person who published it had acted without authorisation.

The party clarified that neither Joseph nor the state leadership had authorised the individual concerned to demand the CJI’s resignation or suggest that a replacement should be found.

The reply also said the party leadership had expressly repudiated the statements. By describing the post as unauthorised, the KPCC sought to distinguish the individual’s actions from the official position of the organisation.

Supreme Court Bar Association Issues Legal Notice

Following the publication of the post, Supreme Court Bar Association joint secretary Meenesh Dubey served a legal notice on KPCC president Sunny Joseph.

Joseph responded to the notice by explaining that the post had been published without the knowledge or approval of the party leadership. The reply also conveyed the organisation’s unconditional apology to the Chief Justice of India.

The legal notice brought the matter to the attention of the state Congress leadership and prompted the party to clarify its position publicly through its formal response.

The KPCC’s reply emphasised that the controversial statements were not authorised and did not reflect its considered opinion. It also acknowledged that publishing such remarks on an official party account was inappropriate.

The information provided does not establish that a court has issued a ruling in the matter. The reported development is the legal notice from the Supreme Court Bar Association and the subsequent response and apology from the KPCC.

KPCC Says Person Responsible Has Been Removed

In its response, the Kerala Congress said the individual responsible for publishing the post had been removed. The party maintained that the post had appeared without the approval of its leadership.

The clarification addressed the question of authorisation, with Joseph stating that neither he nor the party leadership had permitted the person concerned to make the remarks about the CJI.

The KPCC also said its leadership had disapproved of the post and withdrawn the statements. This position formed a central part of the party’s response to the legal notice.

However, the episode raised broader questions within the organisation about how official digital communications are managed and who has the authority to publish statements in the party’s name.

The party acknowledged these concerns and said it would review its arrangements for managing social media accounts, including the access granted to account operators and the approval procedures governing official communications.

Kerala Congress Reaffirms Respect for the Constitution and Judiciary

The KPCC’s response included an explicit reaffirmation of its respect for the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary and the constitutional office of the Chief Justice of India.

The party said the demand for the CJI’s resignation and the suggestion of finding a replacement did not represent its authorised position. It described the expressions as inappropriate and said they should not have appeared on an official party platform.

The apology therefore served two purposes: acknowledging the publication of the controversial remarks and clarifying that they did not reflect the organisation’s official position.

By distancing itself from the post, the party sought to make clear that the remarks were not the result of an authorised decision by its leadership.

The KPCC also acknowledged that the incident had raised concerns about its internal oversight of digital communications. Its proposed review of social media access and approval procedures indicates that the party intends to examine how such unauthorised publications can be prevented.

KPCC Plans Review of Social Media Management and Approval Procedures

The Kerala Congress has said it will review the arrangements governing access to its official social media accounts. The review is expected to cover the authority given to people operating those accounts and the procedures required before official communications are published.

The party’s acknowledgement of oversight concerns suggests that the controversy has prompted an examination of its internal communication controls.

Official social media accounts allow political organisations to communicate statements and announcements directly to the public. Because such posts can be interpreted as representing the organisation’s position, authorisation procedures are important for ensuring that published content reflects approved decisions.

In this case, the KPCC said the post was published without prior knowledge, approval or consultation with its leadership. Its proposed review focuses on access arrangements, the responsibilities of account operators and the approval process for official statements.

The party has also stated that the individual responsible for the post has been removed. The details of any additional changes to its social media management procedures have not been specified in the supplied account.

What the Apology Means for the Kerala Congress

The KPCC’s unconditional apology marks a formal effort to distance the organisation from the October 12 post targeting CJI Surya Kant. The party has said the remarks were unauthorised, inappropriate and inconsistent with its official position.

The response also places responsibility for preventing similar incidents on the organisation’s internal communication arrangements. By acknowledging weaknesses in oversight, the KPCC has indicated that its review will extend beyond the individual responsible for publishing the post to the procedures governing official accounts.

The episode highlights the importance of clear authorisation and accountability when political parties communicate through official digital platforms. Statements published through such accounts can be understood as representing the organisation, making it important to distinguish authorised positions from content posted without approval.

For the KPCC, the immediate steps reported are the unconditional apology, the withdrawal and repudiation of the remarks, the removal of the person responsible and a planned review of social media access and approval procedures.

The party has reaffirmed its respect for the Constitution and judicial independence while making clear that the demand for the CJI’s resignation did not represent its authorised position. The response to the Supreme Court Bar Association’s legal notice is the central development in the controversy.