D Y Chandrachud

'Completely misconstrued': Ex-CJI on praying for solution to Ayodhya case

Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that his remarks about praying to God to help him find a solution to the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute were "completely misconstrued."In an exclusive interview with ANI, Justice Chandrachud said that in Ayodhya's case, the judgment of the court states whether the law and the Constitution were applied or was some "divine intervention.""Like everything else on social media, what I said has been misconstrued. Because what you say is then sort of compressed into a small short of 20 seconds. And what you said on a particular occasion is then put forth in 20 seconds as your view, which is not so. Now, I must tell you that when I spoke on that occasion, just before I laid down office, I went to my own village, which is about an hour and a half from Pune."It's a village called Kanersar, which is predominantly an agricultural community. And I thought I must go to my village. We have an old house built in the 18th century which ...

21% posts vacant in district courts, Govt needs to invest more: Ex-CJI

He also pointed out that this will require a constitutional amendment because, the recruitment and conditions of service of the judges to the district judiciary are, controlled by the governors

Some groups trying to use social media to affect cases: ex-CJI Chandrachud

Former Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Sunday said social media is being used by special interest groups to influence outcome of cases and judges need to be wary of them. He also noted that people nowadays want to form an opinion on the basis of 20 seconds they see on YouTube or any other social media platform, saying it poses a great danger. "Today there are special interest groups, pressure groups who are trying to use social media to affect the minds of the courts and the outcomes of cases. Every citizen is entitled to understand what is the basis of a decision and to express their opinions on the decisions of the court. But when this goes beyond the decisions of the court and targets individual judges, then it sort of raises fundamental questions about - Is this truly freedom of speech and expression?" he said. "Everybody, therefore wants to form an opinion in 20 seconds of what they see on YouTube or any social media platform. This poses a grave danger because the process of

Ex-CJI Chandrachud removed fear of law from political defectors: Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday slammed former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, alleging that he had removed the fear of the law from politicians who defected from parties in Maharashtra. Raut claimed that by not deciding on the disqualification petitions, Chandrachud kept doors and windows open for defections. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader's statement comes after his party faced a severe drubbing in the state assembly elections, as it managed to clinch only 20 out of 95 seats it contested as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The performance of the party's alliance partners was no better, with the Congress winning only 16 out of 101 seats and NCP (SP) getting only 10 out of 86 seats it contested. Talking to reporters, Raut alleged, "He (Chandrachud) has removed the fear of the law from defectors. His name will be written in black letters in history." Following the split in the undivided Shiv Sena in 2022, the party's faction headed by Uddhav Thackeray filed ...

Kharge congratulates Justice Sanjiv Khanna on being sworn in as new CJI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday extended best wishes to Justice Sanjiv Khanna after he was sworn-in as the 51st Chief Justice of India, and noted that the position would place a lot of weight on his shoulders due to the extensive scrutiny and expectations that the office brings with it. Kharge exuded confidence that Khanna would be able to bear the weight of this responsibility and serve the Judiciary with distinction. In a post on X, the Congress chief said, "Extending best wishes to Justice Sanjiv Khanna for taking oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India. The position of the Chief Justice of India would undoubtedly place a lot of weight on his shoulders due to the extensive scrutiny and expectations that the office brings with it." "I am sure with his long and distinguished experience, he will be able to bear the weight of this responsibility and serve the Judiciary with distinction," Kharge said. Justice Khanna was on Monday sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of

Justice Sanjiv Khanna takes oath as India's 51st Chief Justice today

Justice Sanjiv Khanna has sworn in as India's 51st Chief Justice by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, following Justice DY Chandrachud's retirement at age 65

WATCH: CJI Chandrachud bids adieu to Supreme Court on his last working day

In his remarks, CJI Chandrachud reflected on the legacy of the former CJIs who had previously served on the court and expressed confidence in justice Khanna taking over as his successor

My shoulders broad enough to accept criticism: CJI D Y Chandrachud

At his farewell event, Justice Chandrachud says no greater feeling than serving the needy

Aligarh Muslim University minority status case: SC overrules 1967 judgement

Case dates back to 1967 when a five-judge constitution bench had ruled that AMU being a central university cannot be considered a minority institution

CJI Chandrachud: A legacy of verdicts that shaped society, controversy too

He has judgments such as the Ayodhya land dispute, the abrogation of Article 370 and the decriminalisation of consensual gay sex that shaped society and politics to his name. India's 50th chief justice D Y Chandrachud, known also for his many pithy statements, leaves an imprint all his own on the annals of legal history. Friday was the last day in court for Chandrachud, or DYC as he is often referred to, capping a long career as lawyer, Supreme Court judge and head of the country's judiciary. The ever articulate Chandrachud, who actually demits office on Sunday, penned more than 500 judgments, some panned and many praised. The Chandrachud legacy has a physical manifestation too - a reimagined Lady Justice'. The earlier Goddess of Justice' in Grecian robes with blindfold and sword has been replaced by a six-ft tall sculpture with scales in one hand and the Constitution in another. She is in a sari, with a crown and sans blindfold. While that created a stir so did the decision on his

Centre must establish mandatory accessibility norms for specially abled: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to implement mandatory accessibility standards within three months, in a significant order aimed at improving access to public spaces for persons with disabilities. The order by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud comes in response to slow progress on the accessibility directives issued by the court in a judgement on December 15, 2017. The bench, also comprising Justice J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, underscored the necessity of "meaningful access" for disabled persons to public spaces and mandated a two-pronged approach: adapting existing infrastructures to accessibility standards, and ensuring that all new infrastructure is designed to be inclusive from the outset. The bench found that one of the rules of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act does not establish enforceable, compulsory standards, but rather, it relies on self-regulation through guidelines. While acknowledging that accessibility ..

SC rules in favour of DRI authority; clears recovery of Rs 20,000 cr tax

This ruling confirms that DRI officers qualify as "proper officers" under Section 28 of the Customs Act, enabling them to issue show-cause notices

President Murmu's speech on plight of prisoners prompted SC report: CJI

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Tuesday revealed it was President Droupadi Murmu's speech on the plight of inmates that "kindled" a conversation, prompting the publication of a report by the Supreme Court. CJI Chandrachud, speaking at the release of "Prisons in India: Mapping Prison Manuals and Measures for Reformation and Decongestion" at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, thanked the President for her "stirring speech" highlighting the plight of prisoners, especially undertrials, at the 2022 Constitution Day celebrations. "The speech of the President kindled a conversation at the Supreme court and culminated in one of the reports being released today. This report is a result of the President's vision and it is but appropriate that it is being released by her," he said. The CJI added, "I daresay that this is an example of what can be achieved when the different branches of the state share a constitutional goal." Apart from the report on the prisons, the President released "Justice

Judiciary's independence doesn't mean delivering verdicts against govt: CJI

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Monday said the independence of the judiciary does not mean always delivering verdicts against the government. Speaking at an event here organised by the Indian Express group, Chandrachud said there are pressure groups trying to get favourable verdicts by putting pressure on the courts by using electronic media. "Traditionally, judicial independence was defined as independence from the executive. Independence of the judiciary even now means independence from the government. But that is not the only thing in terms of judicial independence. "Our society has changed. Particularly with the advent of social media, you see interest groups, pressure groups and groups which are trying to use electronic media to put pressure on the courts to get favourable decisions," he said. Chandrachud, who demits office on November 10, said a lot of these pressure groups term the judiciary independent if judges decide in their favour. "'If you do not decide in my favour

Nothing wrong in PM's visit to my residence on Ganpati: CJI Chandrachud

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud on Monday said there was "nothing wrong" in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to his residence on Ganpati Puja and underscored the need for a "sense of maturity in political sphere" on such issues. "The PM visited my residence for Ganpati Puja. There is absolutely nothing wrong as these are continuing meetings between the judiciary and the executive even at social level. We meet at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Republic Day, etc. We are in conversation with the prime minister and the ministers. This conversation does not involve the cases which we decide but life and society in general," Chandrachud said at an event organised by the Indian Express group. The CJI said one had to respect that a dialogue took place as part of a robust inter-institutional mechanism and separation of powers between judiciary and the executive did not mean the two not meeting. On his statement that he prayed to God for the solution to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir dispute, .

No forward movement on 4 names reiterated by Collegium headed by CJI

There has been no forward movement on the names reiterated by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud for appointment as high court judges as he demits office as the chief justice of India on November 10. The collegium had in January 2023 reiterated the names of advocates Saurabh Kirpal for elevation as a judge of the Delhi High Court, R John Satyan as judge of the Madras HC, and Amitesh Banerjee and Sakya Sen as judges of the Calcutta High Court. The top court collegium had also reiterated the name of Somasekhar Sundaresan, also an advocate, as judge of the Bombay High Court in January 2023. In November that year, he was elevated as a judge of the Bombay HC. People aware of the procedure to appoint high court and Supreme Court judges said the files relating to Kirpal, Satyan, Banerjee and Sen are still pending with the government. In Januaary 2023, the Supreme Court collegium had for the second time reiterated the names of Banerjee and Sen for appointment as

A institution can be improved, doesn't mean it is fundamentally flawed: CJI

Every institution can be improved, but it should not lead to the conclusion that there is something fundamentally wrong with it, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said here on Saturday while talking about the collegium system. He was speaking during an interaction after delivering the inaugural lecture in a series organized by the Marathi daily 'Loksatta' here. On a question about the collegium system of appointment of Supreme Court and High Court judges, the chief justice said it is a federal system where the responsibility has been given to different levels of governments (both the centre and the states) and the judiciary. "It is a process of consultative dialogue, where consensus emerges, but at times there is no consensus, but that's part of the system. We must have the maturity to understand that this represents the strength of our system," Chandrachud said. "I wish, we will be able to foster a greater consensus, but the point of the matter is, this is dealt with a very .

Lawyers must learn paying proper salaries to youngsters: CJI Chandrachud

Lawyers must learn to pay proper salaries and emoluments to the youngsters who enter their chambers to learn, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud has said In an interview with the All India Radio, Chandrachud said the legal profession is a difficult one where the foundation laid in the initial years keeps the young lawyers in good stead throughout their careers. "There are always ups and downs in a profession. Initially, the amount you make at the end of your first month in the legal profession may not be very high," the CJI said. So it is important to encourage the first timers to hang in, put in the hard work, and be sincere in what they do, Chandrachud said. "Equally, our structures must change as well. For instance, lawyers must learn how to pay proper wages, salaries and emoluments to the young lawyers who enter their chambers," he said. "Youngsters come to their chambers to learn. They also have a great deal to share, so it is a two-way process of absorption and sha

Journalists no longer need law degrees to cover Supreme Court, CJI rules

This change aims to broaden the scope for journalists without legal backgrounds, empowering more voices to report on India's top court

Will hand over next tranche of land for new Bombay HC by Dec: Maha govt

The Maharashtra government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it will hand over the next tranche of land by December for construction of the Bombay High Court's new building complex in Mumbai's Bandra region. The state government also informed a special bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices B R Gavai and JB Pardiwala that so far it has not received the possession of the Air India building in south Mumbai where the mediation centre of the Bombay High Court is proposed to be shifted. The state government said possession of 30.16 acre of land will be handed over to the high court in a phased manner, adding the first tranche measuring 4.39 acres has already been given. Next tranche of land will be made available by December, Birendra Saraf, Advocate General of the state government, told the bench. The law officer also said a judges committee headed by the chief justice of the Bombay High Court has fixed the next meeting with state officials on November 12-13