Former CJI DY Chandrachud responded to the bungalow controversy saying their packing is done and they’ll shift the next day the house is ready. He said the allotted home needs major repairs, which caused the delay.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court administration has instructed the government to ensure that former Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud vacates his official bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi. Justice Chandrachud clarified that he had obtained permission from Justice Sanjiv Khanna to remain there.
The Supreme Court is requesting that former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud leave the official residence at 5 Krishna Menon Marg, which is designated for the current Chief Justice.
Justice Chandrachud mentioned that Justice Sanjiv Khanna had granted him permission to stay until April. Due to his daughter’s special needs, he sought an extension until June and also asked the government to assist in finding rented accommodation.
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In the meantime, the Supreme Court administration has urged the government to ensure that the bungalow is vacated promptly. This situation has prompted various questions, including whether Justice Chandrachud was permitted to stay in violation of regulations, if the government made any exceptions, and whether it is suitable for a former CJI to occupy an official residence for an extended period.
Justice Chandrachud, while explaining the reason for staying longer in the official bungalow, told media,
“We have actually packed up our luggage. Our luggage is already completely packed up. Some of the luggage is already gone to the new house and some are kept here in the storeroom.”
Justice Chandrachud stated to media,
“The government house allotted to me needs a lot of repair. We are waiting for that work to be completed. As soon as the house is ready, we will immediately move in. Our packing is already complete. The day the house is ready, I will shift the very next day.”
The Supreme Court administration has requested the central government to ensure that the official bungalow designated for the Chief Justice is vacated without delay. Located on Krishna Menon Marg in Lutyens’ Delhi, the bungalow is currently occupied by former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, who retired in November of last year.
Since this residence is intended for the sitting Chief Justice, the administration seeks to have it vacated promptly.
Justice Chandrachud shared his perspective with media, explaining that Justice Sanjiv Khanna had permitted him to stay until April. He later requested an extension until June due to the “special needs” of his elder daughter, revealing that they had established an ICU-like facility in the house for her care.
He added that he wrote to Justice Khanna at the end of April, requesting permission to extend his stay until June due to his daughter’s health issues and also sought assistance from the government in securing rented accommodation. He assured that he would move as soon as the repair work was finalized.
Reports indicate that Justice D.Y. Chandrachud wrote to then CJI Sanjiv Khanna on December 18, 2024, a month after his retirement, seeking permission to remain in the Krishna Menon Marg bungalow until April 30, 2025.
In that correspondence, he noted that, according to regulations, he had been assigned another residence (Bungalow No. 14 on Tughlaq Road). However, due to the GRAP-IV pollution control measures in Delhi, construction was halted, preventing any repairs from commencing.
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He mentioned that it would be more convenient for him to stay in the current house until repairs were completed. Additionally, he stated that if another judge required that house, he would vacate the Tughlaq Road residence.
According to rules established in 2022, a retired CJI is allowed to occupy a Type VII accommodation (a smaller house) for six months after retirement. However, Justice Chandrachud has been residing in a Type VIII bungalow, which is typically reserved for the sitting Chief Justice.
Justice Khanna granted his request, and subsequently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs approved his continued stay. Consequently, he was officially allowed to reside at the Krishna Menon Marg bungalow from December 11, 2024, to April 30, 2025. This permission was conveyed to the Supreme Court in a letter dated February 13, 2025.
- Firstly, the Supreme Court is calling for the official CJI residence to be vacated.
- Secondly, Justice Chandrachud asserts that he extended his stay due to his daughter’s health needs.
- Thirdly, according to established rules, he should have been residing in a Type VII accommodation rather than a Type VIII bungalow.
These circumstances have led to numerous questions,
- Was Justice Chandrachud granted permission in violation of the rules?
- Did the government make exceptions?
- Most critically, is it appropriate for a former CJI to occupy an official residence for an extended period?
The answers to these questions are still awaited. However, this issue raises a important concern: Are the rules applied equally to everyone in the country, or do VIPs receive special treatment?
In an interview with media, Justice Chandrachud remarked,
“Justice Sanjiv Khanna had given me an extension till April. At the end of April, I wrote to Justice Khanna again, requesting an extension till June.”
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This indicates that Justice Khanna initially permitted him to stay until April, after which he sought additional time until June.
He added,
“We were looking for a specific kind of house because our daughters have special needs. We created an ICU-like setup for our elder daughter, and so it’s hard to find a suitable house in the open market. That’s why I requested the government to provide me temporary rental accommodation.”
These statements highlight Justice Chandrachud’s genuine concern for his daughter’s health and his preparations to move soon.
Nevertheless, the fundamental question persists: Should he have been allowed to remain in an official residence for such an extended period, potentially in violation of regulations?
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