To avoid delays in accommodation for incoming Chief Justices, the Supreme Court has decided to keep two Lutyens’ Delhi bungalows permanently ready as official CJI residences. This move ensures smooth transition and better administrative planning at the top judicial level.
New Delhi: To make sure that a new Chief Justice of India does not have to wait for a house after taking charge, the Supreme Court Registry has taken an important administrative decision.
It has now decided that two government bungalows will be officially kept reserved as residences for the Chief Justice of India so that there is no inconvenience during the transition period.
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Earlier, there was only one official residence for the Chief Justice of India, and due to rules allowing retired judges six months to vacate their government accommodation, many new CJIs had to face delays before moving into their designated house.
This often caused logistical and functional problems, especially when the CJI had to manage both personal and official duties without proper infrastructure.
Justice Surya Kant is set to take oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on Monday. Instead of moving into the traditional CJI residence at 5, Krishna Menon Marg, he will now reside at 19, Akbar Road, located in Lutyens’ Delhi.
This marks a significant shift in how the Supreme Court manages accommodation for its top judge.
According to senior Supreme Court sources, the 5, Krishna Menon Marg bungalow has already been allotted to Justice Vikram Nath, who is in line to become the next Chief Justice of India after Justice Surya Kant completes his tenure, which is expected to be around 14 months.
This step ensures that the next transition will be smoother and better planned.
Earlier, the arrangement was such that 5, Krishna Menon Marg served as the official residence of the CJI, while the neighbouring 7, Krishna Menon Marg was used as the CJI Secretariat.
However, the new decision changes this structure. The bungalow at 7, Krishna Menon Marg will now be allotted to another Supreme Court judge, and the Registry has officially written to the Central Government informing them about this change.
As per sources, the bungalow at 19, Akbar Road had already been allotted to Justice Surya Kant more than a year ago. This residence is a spacious two-storey building with enough office space to manage official work efficiently.
Recognising the operational needs of the Chief Justice, the Registry recently also requested for a temporary secretariat to be set up at this new residence, similar to the one that already exists at 5, Krishna Menon Marg.
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Explaining the new arrangement, an official stated,
“Both residences can, thus, now function as the Chief Justice of India’s official accommodation,”
This move is being seen as a practical and forward-looking administrative reform by the Supreme Court Registry, aimed at reducing delays, avoiding unnecessary inconvenience, and ensuring a smooth handover of responsibilities every time a new Chief Justice of India assumes office.
It also reflects better planning and coordination between the judiciary and the central government in managing high-level judicial infrastructure.
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