On CJI Chandrachud’s last working day, Congress throws Aadhaar bill, RTI amendment ink at his legacy

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 8: The Congress took potshots at the legacy of DY Chandrachud on Friday, his last working day as Chief Justice of India.

“Today is the last working day for the retiring Chief Justice of India. His legacy will continue to be debated, as indeed it should be. Personally, as the main petitioner in at least 2 very important matters, I have been deeply disappointed”, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted on his X handle.

“First, the brave judge who in his September 2018 dissenting judgment called the Aadhar Bill’s passage as a Money Bill a “fraud on the Constitution”, never constituted a full Bench to examine the issues involved in the matter of legislation being arbitrarily declared by the Modi Government as a money bill under Art 110 of the Constitution just to avoid full debate. He had promised to do so after taking over as Chief Justice.

“Second, my challenge of the Modi Government’s damaging amendments to the RTI has been awaiting hearing and verdict for over 4 years now”, he added.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the senior-most Judge after the outgoing CJI, is to replace Chandrachud and become the 51st Chief Justice of India from November 11.

On Monday, at an event organised by the Indian Express group, Chandrachud had said the independence of the judiciary does not mean always delivering verdicts against the Government.

He had 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”, Chandrachud was quoted as saying in a PTI report.

“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 reportedly said.

Ceremonial Bench proceedings to bid farewell to CJI Chandrachud and the Supreme Court Bar Association function to bid farewell to him are both scheduled for Friday. (Courtesy: TT)