Former CJI DY Chandrachud vacated his official residence a month after the Supreme Court’s letter to the Centre. His extended stay was due to personal family needs and a lack of accessible housing.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: Former Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, has now officially left his government residence at 5, Krishna Menon Marg, about one month after the Supreme Court’s letter to the central government.
Justice Chandrachud, who retired on November 10, 2024, after serving for two impactful years as the 50th Chief Justice of India, had continued staying in the official Chief Justice’s house even after his retirement, which became a topic of public attention.
Talking to Times Now, Justice Chandrachud said,
“I and my wife Kalpana have been over the entire past one week shifting luggage part by part now we have moved out of 5, Krishna Menon Marg.”
After his retirement, the Supreme Court administration accused Justice Chandrachud of overstaying in the official bungalow. In a letter sent by the SC to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, they wrote,
“Permission that was granted for retention has expired on 31st May, 2025, but also the period of six months provided in Rule 3B of the 2022 Rules has expired on 10th May, 2025.”
Since the two judges who followed him—Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice B R Gavai—had short tenures as Chief Justice (only six months each), they did not move into the official CJI residence. So, Justice Chandrachud had requested permission to stay there for some more time.
On July 1, 2025, under the leadership of current CJI B R Gavai, the Supreme Court administration sent a letter to the Ministry of Housing asking them to take back the house. Following that, Justice Chandrachud finally vacated the residence about 30 days later.
Explaining the delay in leaving, Justice Chandrachud said he was trying to find a house that was friendly for wheelchair users because both of his adopted daughters have serious medical conditions and use wheelchairs.
“There were compelling personal reasons about which subsequent Chief Justices and Supreme Court administration was fully informed,”
-he said.
In the July 1 letter to the Ministry, the SC official wrote-
“I am to request you to take the possession of Bungalow No. 5, Krishna Menon Marg, from Hon’ble Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud without any further delay as not only the permission that was granted for retention… has expired on 31st May, 2025, but also the period of six months provided in Rule 3B of the 2022 Rules has expired on 10th May, 2025.”
Earlier, Justice Chandrachud had clarified that he had already been given another house by the government on rent for a limited time, but it needed repairs.
“It’s just a matter of few days before he leaves. Luggage is all packed up,”
-he had said, after the Supreme Court’s letter became public and caused some controversy.
Justice Chandrachud also explained why he needed an extension, stating that when Justice Sanjiv Khanna became CJI, he did not move into the official residence, so Justice Chandrachud was allowed to stay till April 30.
Later, he was given another house, but it was not suitable.
“Since Justice Sanjiv Khanna who later became CJI was not occupying the official residence I was allowed to stay on at the residence till April 30 after which he was allotted an alternate accommodation. But it required a lot of repair and was not wheel-chair accessible and both my differently abled adopted daughters were wheel-chair bound. When I urged Justice Khanna to give an extension he said an extension can be considered but he heard nothing in this regard from new CJI B R Gavai.”
In his letter to the SC, Justice Chandrachud said that although he had been allotted Bungalow No. 14 at Tughlak Road as per the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Rules, 2022, the repair work at the new place was delayed due to pollution-related construction restrictions under GRAP-IV.
“My daughters have severe comorbidities and genetic problems – particularly nemaline myopathy, for which they are being treated by specialists at AIIMS. This is something he has already discussed with the judges and the officers in the Supreme Court,”
-he explained.
Justice Chandrachud’s delayed move was not because of defiance, but due to deep personal and medical concerns related to his family. With the situation now resolved, the official residence has been returned to the SC’s housing pool.
Would You Like Assistance In Drafting A Legal Notice Or Complaint?
CLICK HERE
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Ex-CJI Chandrachud & Official Residence
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Ex-CJI Chandrachud
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
