SCBA President Vikas Singh lauded Justice Dhulia for vacating his residence the same day, calling it “outstanding,” while criticising ex-CJI DY Chandrachud for allegedly overstaying in government housing. Singh said judges must lead by example to uphold the court’s dignity.
New Delhi: On August 8, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia vacated his official residence, drawing praise from Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh, who also took a sharp dig at former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud while questioning how some judges manage the process of leaving government accommodation.
Applauding Justice Dhulia’s swift action, Vikas Singh said,
“His decision to vacate the official residence the same day is outstanding. This is the way you enhance prestige of the institution.”
He stressed that such promptness reflects well on the judiciary and helps maintain the institution’s credibility.
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Without naming the former Chief Justice, Vikas Singh referred to the controversy over his extended stay in an official residence, saying,
“Now, we have had a recent exampled of a Chief Justice wanting to overstay. Chief Justices are allowed six months only [to stay in the official residence after retirement]. He had already stayed in that house for eight months. I was surprised to see him using the grounds of his disabled children. But the real reason was that even after eight months, he said he was looking for a private home. Ultimately, he went to a government home. So, obvious, while he was in his tenure, there was some arrangement with the government which was going to give him something, and that is why he didn’t move to a private home. He moved straight to a government home. He is not entitled to a government home.”
He further remarked,
“You knew you had these children and you could have planned ahead. But if you wanted to get a government bungalow and that was getting delayed, and because of which you didn’t want to leave the government bungalow till you got a government bungalow, which you are not entitled to, then of course there is something sinister.”
The controversy over the former CJI’s prolonged stay came to light when, on July 1, the Supreme Court administration wrote to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs seeking immediate repossession of the bungalow at Krishna Menon Marg.
The former CJI, who retired in November 2024, had formal permission to remain until April 30, followed by an informal extension until May 31.
His continued occupation into July led to the Supreme Court’s rare intervention with the government.
Under the Supreme Court Judges Rules, 2022, a retired Chief Justice may occupy a Type VII house rent-free for six months. Occupying a Type VIII residence, such as 5 Krishna Menon Marg, requires special permission and a license fee.
In this case, the former CJI stayed on based on an internal Supreme Court extension — outside the official entitlement.
The former CJI told Bar & Bench that the government had allotted him a new house and that he would be paying the prescribed rent for it.
The six-month benefit under the amended Rules will apply from when he takes possession of the new residence.
Singh then referred to a recent controversy involving DY Chandrachud, remarking,
“Recently we have had instance of a ex-CJI overstaying… he had already stayed for 8 months… I was surprised to see him using ground of overstay his disabled children… real reason was he said he was looking for another home… but he ultimately went to a govt house… obviously, there was some arrangement with the govt… he is Not entitled to any govt accommodation.”
Pointing to the example of another top judge, Singh noted,
“The current CJI Gavai said he will accommodation before time. If judges can’t do it themselves, how can they pass orders for others?”
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Former CJI DY Chandrachud
