“Completely Cognisant of My Responsibilities”: SC Tells Ex-CJI Chandrachud to Vacate Bungalow, Citing Expired Stay
New Delhi: In a rare and serious move, the Supreme Court of India has written to the Union government, asking for the immediate eviction of former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud from his official residence at Bungalow No. 5, Krishna Menon Marg in Lutyens’ Delhi.
The court’s administration said that Justice Chandrachud has stayed at the bungalow beyond the allowed time limit under the rules and that the house must be returned to the court’s housing pool without any delay.
A letter dated July 1, 2025, sent by a Supreme Court official to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), stated clearly:
“I am to request you to take the possession of Bungalow No. 5, Krishna Menon Marg, from Hon’ble Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud without any further delay as not only the permission that was granted for retention… has expired on 31st May, 2025, but also the period of six months provided in Rule 3B of the 2022 Rules has expired on 10th May, 2025.”
Justice Chandrachud had served as the 50th Chief Justice of India from November 2022 to November 2024. After retiring, he continued to live at the Type VIII bungalow for almost eight months.
However, his successors—Justice Sanjiv Khanna and the current CJI, Justice Bhushan R. Gavai—did not move into this residence and chose to stay in their previous official bungalows.
Responding to the issue, Justice Chandrachud said the delay was due to personal reasons, which were already informed to the Supreme Court administration.
He said,
“I have already been allotted an accommodation by the government on rent and that house is currently under renovation because it was shut for the last at least two years. I informed the Supreme Court about this allotment, making it clear I will shift the very next day that the house is ready,”
Shortly after his retirement, on December 18, 2024, Justice Chandrachud had written to then Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, requesting permission to stay in the Krishna Menon Marg bungalow until April 30, 2025.
In the letter, he mentioned that although the government had allotted him another bungalow—No. 14 on Tughlak Road—renovation work there had been delayed due to pollution-related construction restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-IV).
He wrote,
“It would be more convenient if I am permitted to retain the existing accommodation at 5 Krishna Menon Marg till 30 April 2025,”
and offered to give up the Tughlak Road bungalow so that it could be given to another judge.
According to Rule 3B of the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Rules, 2022, a retired Chief Justice is entitled to stay in Type VII accommodation—one level below Type VIII—for a maximum period of six months.
Despite this, MoHUA allowed Justice Chandrachud to stay in the Type VIII bungalow from December 11, 2024, to April 30, 2025, on the payment of ₹5,430 per month as licence fees. This approval was officially conveyed to the Supreme Court by a letter dated February 13, 2025.
Later, Justice Chandrachud made another oral request to extend his stay until May 31, 2025, which was agreed to by the then CJI with a condition that no further extension would be permitted, especially since other judges, who were recently appointed, were staying in guest houses or waiting for their own official bungalows.
The Supreme Court’s July 1 letter pointed out that the extended deadline had already passed, and Rule 3B permits only six months of post-retirement stay in a Type VII house—not Type VIII—making Justice Chandrachud’s continued stay a violation of the rules.
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The letter also mentioned that while the extension was earlier granted under “special circumstances,” the understanding was that the residence would be vacated by the end of May.
Now that the deadline is over, the court has formally requested the Ministry to
“take possession without any further delay”
and confirm the same to the court.
This formal request marks a rare instance where the Supreme Court itself has intervened in a matter involving a former Chief Justice and demanded the return of its official residence.
While it is not unusual for some leeway to be given to retired officials, a direct letter seeking immediate possession is unprecedented.
Justice Chandrachud explained that the delay in moving was due to specific needs of his family, especially his daughters.
He said,
“I have two daughters with special needs, which is why it has taken me some time to look for a house appropriate for their needs,”
He further revealed that both daughters suffer from serious medical conditions.
“My daughters have severe comorbidities and genetic problems – particularly nemaline myopathy, for which they are being treated by specialists at AIIMS. I totally understand it is my personal issue. But I should also make it clear why it has taken me so long to look for a house, and this is something I have already discussed with the judges and the officers in the Supreme Court.”
He assured that the issue would be resolved very soon.
Justice Chandrachud said,
“It is a matter of just a few days and I will shift… I have occupied the highest judicial office and I am completely cognisant of my responsibilities. To be sure, former CJIs in the past have been allowed extended time to retain government accommodation post-retirement, often to facilitate transition or address personal exigencies,”
He also mentioned that he had written a letter on April 28 to then CJI Justice Khanna to inform him that he was searching for a suitable house due to his daughters’ special requirements and had asked for an extension till June 30, 2025.
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