The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has issued an unconditional apology to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant over a controversial post published on its official X account, distancing the party leadership from the remarks.
In its response to a legal notice received on October 21, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the post was published by Vijay Thottathil without the leadership’s knowledge or approval. Thottathil was subsequently removed from his position and asked to apologise publicly.
The KPCC expressed regret over the language used, withdrew the remarks and reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional values, judicial independence and the dignity of the judiciary. Joseph clarified that the apology on behalf of the party was separate from the public apology sought from Thottathil.
The controversial post, published on October 12, had called for the CJI’s resignation and suggested finding a replacement to address law-and-order concerns.
The party acknowledged shortcomings in its social media oversight and said it would review the approval process, account access and personnel involved in publishing the post. It also committed to preserving relevant electronic records and internal communications for any lawful inquiry.
Joseph denied personally authorising or endorsing the post but acknowledged the need to strengthen communication controls to prevent similar incidents.