Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, reflecting on the 2019 Ayodhya verdict, addressed criticisms, including Justice Rohinton Nariman’s sharp remarks that the decision undermined secularism, calling it a “travesty of justice.” Chandrachud emphasized that judicial decisions are public property open to scrutiny, highlighting democracy’s role in fostering such debates. He acknowledged Nariman’s perspective as a testament to the vibrancy of secularism in India but stressed the judiciary’s collective effort to bring peace through the judgment, which avoided individual authorship to symbolize unity. Chandrachud reaffirmed the court’s dedication to balancing diverse viewpoints in resolving sensitive disputes.
