During the 10th edition of the India Economic Conclave (IEC) held at Bharat Mandapam, former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud delved into critical issues surrounding the Indian judiciary. Including the Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash’s suicide case and reflections on his tenure as the Chief Justice of India. “Particularly when human relations are involved, as in the case of a spousal conflict, it’s very difficult for us sitting in the course of a platform like this which actually deduce as to what happened between them at that particular point of time.”
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NEW DELHI: During the 10th edition of the India Economic Conclave (IEC) held at Bharat Mandapam, former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud delved into critical issues surrounding the Indian judiciary.
Speaking on the theme “Transforming Indian Judiciary,” he addressed contemporary challenges, including the Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash’s suicide case and reflections on his tenure as the Chief Justice of India.
Insights on the Bengaluru Techie Atul Subhash’s Suicide Case
Discussing the tragic suicide of Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old AI engineer from Bengaluru, Chandrachud highlighted the limitations of the current judicial framework in addressing intricate family conflicts. He emphasized the nuanced nature of such disputes, stating:
“We don’t know the truth of what happened. You have on one hand the suicide note which is widely being reported in media. You also have the complaint by the wife which is also being reported in media. Particularly when human relations are involved, as in the case of a spousal conflict, it’s very difficult for us sitting in the course of a platform like this which actually deduce as to what happened between them at that particular point of time.”
Expanding on the complexities of personal relationships, he observed:
“Very often in personal relationship including spousal relationship, the conflict is not between right and wrong. It’s a conflict sometimes between right and right and sometimes between wrong and wrong. And that’s perhaps reflective of what happens in the court very often. I am not talking about this particular case.”
Highlighting the societal changes contributing to familial tensions, Chandrachud remarked on the evolving dynamics of family structures:
“What is of concern to me is that particularly in the context of family law our society is undergoing huge flux. More and more young people are extraordinarily mobile, socially and economically, women are up in the employment space, marriages are under stress because spouses live in two different countries. This is putting tremendous stress on the family as a unit in our society. And, I don’t think our judicial system today is equipped to deal with these issues of family conflicts. Our model for resolution of family disputes are purely adversarial model which is just not appropriate for resolving family disputes. The longer it takes to resolve the disputes, the worse it becomes.”
Reflections on a Transformative Tenure
DY Chandrachud also reflected on his tenure as the Chief Justice of India and his contributions to landmark judgments. He underscored the transformative vision that guided his decisions, noting:
“As judges, I believe we had a very vital role in the overall vision of the constitution to socially transform Indian society – a society which is the birth of the constitution coming out of a colonial society governed by patriarchy and caste discrimination. Therefore, judges per se have a very vital role in the evolution of the rule of law.”
Discussing the challenges and responsibilities that shaped his career, he stated:
“So, everything that I did as a judge whether it was in the High Court as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad HC, as the Judge of the Supreme Court and finally as the Chief Justice of India, it was great challenge whether it was in the terms of deciding on the future evolution of our society or in terms of creating the right infrastructure to reflect the growth of the Indian judiciary keeping in view the growth of the nation. So, it was a time of challenge, it was a time of opportunity and it was a time of transform as well.”
A Vision for Judicial Reform
The insights shared by Chandrachud at the conclave underscore the pressing need for a judiciary capable of addressing the complexities of modern societal conflicts. His reflections on his tenure and landmark judgments illustrate the evolving role of the judiciary in shaping a just and equitable society.
By addressing the need for structural reforms and a shift from adversarial models in family law, Chandrachud advocates for a judicial system that aligns with the dynamic realities of contemporary India.
His remarks resonate as a call to action for policymakers and legal professionals to rethink and modernize judicial processes for a more inclusive and efficient system.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Atul Subhash’s Suicide
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