Chief Justice Chandrachud completes last working day in office; retires on November 10

Chief Justice of India Chandrachud says Supreme Court a CJI centric court, needs reform

Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud divided his last working hours on Friday (November 8, 2024) into a morning choc-a-bloc with judgment and cases and an afternoon dedicated to remembrance of his eight years in the Supreme Court as judge.

He retires on November 10. In his short address in a jam-packed courtroom with lines of lawyers waiting to say tribute, and family members, the Chief Justice, accompanied by his successor, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, called judges “birds of a short passage of time”. He said he opened up his private and public life to scrutiny, often at the cost of getting trolled, for he believed that sunlight was the best disinfectant.

Later at a speech at a farewell function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Chief Justice Chandrachud said, “when you expose your own life to public knowledge, you expose yourself to criticism, particularly in today’s age of social media. So be it.”

He said what makes judges tick was the impact their decisions have on the lives of common citizens. The Chief Justice said the Supreme Court was a Chief Justice-centric Court. The structure needed reform.

The CJI denied any rancor within the Collegium. The meetings were cordial. “We never lost sight of the fact that we are not here with personal agendas at work... We are here to sub-serve the interests of the institution,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

Immense privilege of serving country, says Chandrachud

In his address, CJI Chandrachud recounted his journey, from sitting in the last row of the court as a young law student to his time on the revered corridors of the top court.

He reflected on the immense privilege of serving the country, emphasising that each day spent in the court was an opportunity to learn and grow in both legal knowledge and personal insight.

"I was always aware of the overpowering presence of the greats of this court and the responsibility that came with sitting in this chair. But at the end of the day, it is not about the individual, it is about the institution and the cause of justice we uphold here," the CJI said.

He spoke with admiration for his colleagues, particularly highlighting his time on the bench with Justices Pardiwala and Misra, noting the camaraderie and diversity of perspectives that enriched their collective work.

The CJI also expressed his confidence in the future of the court, reassuring the legal community that his successor, Justice Khanna, whom he described as "dignified, stable and deeply committed to justice", would lead the court with equal dedication and vision.

In a heartfelt conclusion, CJI Chandrachud expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to his journey — senior advocates, juniors, officers and staff — acknowledging that each one of them played a role in shaping his understanding of the law and life.

Extends apology for any unintentional errors

He also extended an apology for any unintentional errors or misunderstandings, saying, "If I have ever hurt anyone, I seek your forgiveness." Justice Khanna wished good luck to the CJI, saying, "He has made my task easy and tough. Easy because of the revolutions ushered in and tough because I cannot walk up to him. He will be sorely missed. His youthfulness is not known here only but also abroad. In Australia, there were so many who came to me and asked what his age was." Sibal described the CJI as "the extraordinary son of an extraordinary father".

"I have practised in this court for 52 years now and in my life, I have never seen a judge with the kind of limitless patience that you have, the ever smiling Dr Chandrachud," the SCBA president said.

"What can I say about you as a human being and you as a judge? As a judge, your conduct was exemplary. No one can match it. You reached out to communities in this country who were never heard before, who were not seen before. You brought them before you and showed what dignity meant for them," he added.

"Be it liberty, be it fraternity, be it life, be it the life of ordinary, marginalised challenged people, you have, unlike your father, dealt with this court when the court was tumultuous. You have dealt with the court when matters were tumultuous. You took them head on, unafraid of the consequences. Your greatest legacy to this court that there will be none like you...," he said.

Passion for cricket

Former attorney general K K Venugopal recounted his experience and said, "When your father asked me should I advise him (Justice Chandrachud) to continue at the bar or take judgeship, I said he is a great lawyer and let him continue in the same. But you took up judgeship and thank god. If you had listened to me, then we would have lost such a great judge." Born on November 11, 1959, Justice Chandrachud has had a distinguished career in the judiciary.

His passion for cricket dates back to his childhood, when he reportedly played the sport in the backyard of his father's residence in Lutyens' Delhi.

He was designated as a senior advocate by the Bombay High Court in June 1998 and served as the additional solicitor general, before being appointed a judge of the Bombay High Court on March 29, 2000. He later became the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court on October 31, 2013.

Justice Chandrachud holds a BA degree in Economics from Delhi's St Stephen's College, an LLB from the Delhi University's Campus Law Centre and an LLM and a Doctorate in Juridical Sciences (SJD) from the Harvard Law School.

(With inputs from PTI)

Published - November 08, 2024 05:26 pm IST