The Supreme Court spent Rs 2.68 crore of taxpayers’ money on glass panels that were removed within months. This included Rs 2.6 crore for installation and Rs 8.6 lakh for dismantling. A clear tension has emerged between former CJI DY Chandrachud and current CJI BR Gavai—but is it a matter of personal grudges, institutional realignment, or just standard administrative course correction?
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India faced public scrutiny after it was revealed through an RTI that glass panels worth Rs 2.6 crore were installed—and then removed within less than a year—using public funds.
The removal of these glass partitions cost an additional Rs 8.63 lakh, raising questions about how taxpayers’ money is being used.
ALSO READ: CJI Gavai Wants Ex-CJI Chandrachud To Be Removed Immediately?
The RTI, filed by Ashok Kumar Upadhyay of India Today, showed that this expensive installation project took place during the tenure of former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, who served from November 2022.
He introduced many changes to modernise the court. One of the biggest changes was the setting up of glass partitions in the historic corridors outside the first five courtrooms. This completely changed how the Supreme Court looked and felt.
The idea behind installing these glass panels was to bring centralised air conditioning and improve comfort and infrastructure inside the Supreme Court. But this change was not well-received by the legal community.
“First among equals” is a term often used for the Chief Justice of India, but it’s not always understood how much impact their administrative decisions can have. Ideally, one Chief Justice should smoothly pass responsibilities to the next, like a baton in a relay race. But in reality, things often become competitive, and new Chief Justices may start undoing the work of their predecessors.
Soon after the glass panels were installed, both the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) raised strong objections. They said the panels made the corridors narrower, causing crowding during busy hours. Moving from one court to another became a problem for many lawyers.
ALSO READ: Political Pressure From Modi Government? Ex-CJI Chandrachud Replies
They also pointed out that they were “not consulted” before these major changes were made, even though they are active participants in the daily working of the court.
After DY Chandrachud retired, the SCBA wrote a formal letter to the next Chief Justice, Sanjiv Khanna, asking him to remove the glass walls and bring back the original design. The lawyers said the panels had taken away from the Supreme Court’s “original grandeur, visibility, and historic aesthetic”.
Chief Justice Khanna did not take any action. But soon after Justice BR Gavai took charge as the new Chief Justice, he clearly said that he would remove the glass panels and return the court corridors to their “original avatar”. A Full Court meeting was held, which included all Supreme Court judges, and they all agreed to remove the glass walls.
The actual removal work happened in June 2025. It brought back the original open corridors.
But the question remained—was it worth the cost?
ALSO READ: Article 370 Was Meant To Fade Away: Ex-CJI Chandrachud Defends Supreme Court Verdict
As per the RTI response, the total installation cost was Rs 2,59,79,230, or nearly Rs 2.6 crore.
This work was done by a contractor named M/s BM Gupta & Sons. They were selected through an open e-tender process under the CPWD e-tender portal. Later, Rs 8,63,700 more was spent to dismantle these glass panels.
The Supreme Court clarified that the decision to remove the panels was a “collective decision”, and not just an order by the new Chief Justice.
So, a total of Rs 2.68 crore from government funds was spent—first to put up the glass walls, and then to take them down—all within a single year.
This money came from the central government’s budget for maintaining the Supreme Court building, which falls under the Ministry of Law and Justice. In simple terms, taxpayers’ money was used to build something that didn’t even last a full year.
This is not the only reversal done by Chief Justice Gavai. During DY Chandrachud’s time, the court’s official logo was also changed in September 2024. Justice Gavai reversed this too and brought back the original logo featuring the State Emblem of India at its center.
These constant changes also show some deeper problems in how the system works. Due to the seniority rule, each Chief Justice gets only a short term. There’s no proper system to make transitions smoother. And because people expect fast and visible reforms, many decisions are taken quickly, without proper consultation or long-term thinking.
CJI Chandrachud vs CJI Gavai: Clash Over Court Legacy or Personal Cold War?
A clear tension has emerged between former CJI DY Chandrachud and current CJI BR Gavai-
But is it a matter of personal grudges, institutional realignment, or just standard administrative course correction?
Reversals Raise Eyebrows
Immediately after succeeding Sanjiv Khanna in May 2025, CJI Gavai announced: “when all of you come back … you will see the Supreme Court in its ‘original avatar’” — a direct reference to rolling back Chandrachud-era changes like the glass partitions and new emblem.
Gavai also restored the original logo introduced by earlier leadership, reversing Chandrachud’s modern redesign of September 2024 .
Were These Moves Personal or Principled?
Some see Gavai’s swift undoing as a “quiet assertion of authority by the new Chief Justice”.
Others argue the Chandrachud-era changes were commemorative of the 75th anniversary—not meant to last—and thus ripe for reversal.
Why Name Predecessors—But Not Chandrachud?
In events honoring CJIs Khanna and Gogoi, Gavai mentioned both by name, but remains silent on Chandrachud. Could that signal cold distance—or is it simply a matter of optics?
- Possible personal slight: If taken personally, the silence may hint at Gavai intentionally sidelining Chandrachud’s impact.
- Beyond personalities: Gavai may see his administrative focus as on institutional symbolism—reverting what he views as unnecessary modern tweaks—rather than an attack on Chandrachud personally.
Administrative Cycle vs Grudge Game
India’s Chief Justices serve for short terms under the seniority system—typically only a few months—which fosters shifts that appear as pendulum swings in leadership style.
There’s no established mechanism to carry forward non-judicial decisions, meaning every new CJI can—and often does—reshape the court’s appearance or administrative norms.
Bottom Line
CJI Gavai’s quick reversals—from glass partitions to emblems—may reflect more than a petty grudge. It may be about restoring institutional roots, asserting authority, or just marking a new chapter.
It could also be a mix: personal distance from Chandrachud’s era layered over a vision of “original avatar” stability.
Let me know if you’d like a comparative timeline of changes by Chandrachud and Gavai, or a deeper dive into their ideological differences.
Would You Like Assistance In Drafting A Legal Notice Or Complaint?
CLICK HERE
Click Here to Read Our Reports on CJI BR Gavai
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Ex-CJI Chandrachud
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
