Today, On 23rd September, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud reaffirmed the judiciary’s fierce independence, stating that judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts carry out their roles with utmost autonomy. He noted that the judiciary aligns with the government only on administrative matters like budgeting and infrastructure, not on judicial decisions. CJI Chandrachud emphasized that there should be no doubt about the independence with which judges function.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud emphasized on Monday that while the Indian judiciary operates with complete independence, it collaborates with the government on matters related to court budgeting and infrastructure.
During the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Bombay High Court complex in Mumbai, the CJI stated,
“Let there be no doubt that judges across the Supreme Court and High Courts exercise their functions with the fiercest sense of independence. But when it comes to budgeting or infrastructure, we stand with the government. These are not private projects for the judges,”
He highlighted that cooperation between the state and judiciary is crucial to providing modern infrastructure for citizens.
CJI DY Chandrachud’s remarks come shortly after facing criticism for a recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the CJI’s residence for a Ganesh Pooja celebration.
The gathering was also attended by Supreme Court Justices BR Gavai, Abhay S. Oka, Ujjal Bhuyan, Dipankar Datta, and Prasanna B. Varale.
The event featured prominent figures such as Bombay High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyay, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, along with Maharashtra Advocate General Birendra Saraf.
Read Also: “Gene Therapy Must be Accessible to Everyone, Not Just in Urban Areas”: CJI
CJI Chandrachud’s remarks aim to dispel any misconception that the judiciary’s collaboration with the government on such projects compromises its independence. He clarified that the partnership with the government on budgetary and infrastructural matters is crucial for the proper functioning of the judicial system, ensuring that the infrastructure provided serves the public, not individual judges.
This balanced approach of maintaining judicial independence while fostering collaboration for infrastructure development reflects a pragmatic stance aimed at addressing both the needs of the judiciary and the public interest.