CJI Chandrachud, who is set to retire on November 10, was felicitated by the lawyers’ associations of Mumbai at the Bombay High Court. He highlighted the importance of compassion in judicial work, saying, “What sustains us as judges is our sense of compassion for society.” Reflecting on a case aiding a marginalized student, he underscored his belief that “one single justification to grant relief is all that is necessary.”
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud emphasized that a “sense of compassion for society” has been his guiding principle as a judge.
Speaking at a farewell event organized by Mumbai lawyers’ associations at the Bombay High Court, CJI Chandrachud, set to retire on November 10, shared the values that have underpinned his approach to justice.
“The element of scrutiny gets into our work. Nothing misses this scrutiny…But what sustains us as judges is our sense of compassion for the society to which we render our justice,”
he stated, underscoring the importance of empathy in the judiciary.
One case that stood out for the CJI was that of Atul Kumar, a Dalit student who almost lost his seat in IIT Dhanbad due to a missed payment deadline. Kumar, the son of a daily wage laborer, had been granted admission to the Electrical Engineering program but was at risk of losing it over a fee payment of ₹17,500.
“The boy came from a marginalized background and couldn’t pay the admission fees on time…He would have lost his admission had we not granted relief then,”
shared CJI Chandrachud, highlighting how this decision represents the compassionate approach that has defined his tenure. The Supreme Court intervened on September 30, ordering IIT Dhanbad to reinstate Kumar’s admission.
The CJI noted,
“You can find 25 reasons of technical nature to not grant relief…but to my mind, one single justification to grant relief is all that is necessary.”
This sentiment speaks to his broader judicial philosophy: weighing the merits of compassion over purely technical arguments.
Reflecting on his journey, CJI Chandrachud expressed a special fondness for the Bombay High Court, where he served as a judge for over a decade.
“There is nothing like the Bombay High Court…Even during the time of Emergency, when everybody was losing their minds, the Bombay High Court judges did not waver from the cause of justice,”
he said, praising the resilience and dedication of his colleagues in standing by principles of justice and liberty.
His tenure as CJI has not been without challenges. The CJI described his early days in judgeship as daunting.
“As a judge, you are confronted with your worst fears…you must take up every matter that is on your board. I was overwhelmed initially,”
he confessed, sharing how he grew into the role despite the intense demands it entailed. This candid reflection offers insight into the resilience required of judges who must face difficult cases and make impartial decisions under intense scrutiny.
Justice Chandrachud’s reflections capture the essence of his judicial philosophy—upholding empathy in decision-making, adhering to justice even under pressure, and valuing the people he serves above all technicalities. As his retirement date approaches, his words and legacy leave a lasting message: that the “heart and soul” of the judiciary should always be grounded in compassion.
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