Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, emphasized the collaborative mission of the government’s three branches, the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary toward national betterment. He clarified that while the Supreme Court maintains an administrative relationship with the government, this remains separate from its judicial functions. His remarks highlighted the importance of respecting the distinct roles of each branch in a democracy. CJI Chandrachud’s statement aimed to reinforce the judiciary’s independence and its commitment to justice.
New Delhi: During a recent lecture series, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud addressed the distinction between the Supreme Court’s administrative relationship with the government and its judicial responsibilities.
Referring to the recent visit of the Prime Minister to his residence for Ganesh Puja, the CJI clarified,
“It is a tradition that the CM or the Chief Justice will meet each other on festivals or bereavement. But surely we must have the maturity to understand it has no bearing at all on our judicial work.”
He further emphasized the need for “a continuing dialogue” with the government, noting that,
“In so many ways, there is an intersection between the work of the judiciary and government on the administrative side.”
In his inaugural address for the Loksatta Annual Lecture series at Mumbai University, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud clarified that meetings between the judiciary and executive are free from any deal-making.
He said,
“This is part of a robust dialogue between different arms of the government,”,
Further adding he said,
“We have three arms of the government,the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. We have to understand that the work of all three arms is dedicated to one and the same goal, namely, the betterment of the nation.”
The CJI also addressed the recent controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to his home for Ganesh Puja, calling the criticism “unnecessary, unwarranted, and illogical.”
He affirmed that political executives may visit judges’ homes on social occasions, noting that an independent judiciary is so deeply embedded in the judiciary’s culture that judicial matters “are never discussed.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at Ganpati Puja at Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud’s residence on September 11 sparked criticism from opposition leaders and some legal professionals, raising concerns over the judiciary’s independence.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising commented on social media, saying that the visit “blurred the lines between the executive and judiciary.”
Media reports indicated that Shiv Sena (UBT) voiced concerns that such gatherings could cast public doubts on judicial impartiality. The BJP, however, defended the visit, describing it as purely cultural, stating that such events “are a part of our culture.”
Senior Congress leader and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Kapil Sibal also weighed in, suggesting the Prime Minister “should not have shown any interest in attending the Ganesh Puja” at the CJI’s home.
Sibal expressed concern about the message such a visit might convey to the judiciary, stating,
“Once you do this, what message does it send to the high courts and the judiciary? That sends an unfortunate signal. My view is it should have best been avoided.”
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