Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant (DY) Chandrachud on Wednesday created a record as he took oath as the 50th Chief Justice of India (CJI). He is the son of former CJI Y.V. Chandrachud. This has become the first time in the history of the judiciary, Father and son have become CJI.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice D.Y. Chandrachud at the swearing-in ceremony held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others were present on the occasion.
Justice Chandrachud succeeds Chief Justice UU Lalit who retired on November 9.
The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court of India Justice D. Y. Chandrachud on Wednesday has become the 50th head of the Judiciary of the country. He will have a tenure till 10 November 2024. Last Month the Centre Government had notified the name of Chandrachud, Judge of the Supreme Court, as the Chief Justice of India, with effect from 9 November 2022.
Soon after taking oath, Chandrachud assured that he would protect all Indians and that serving the nation was his priority. Talking to the reporters, CJI said, “To serve the nation is my priority. We’ll protect all the citizens of India, be it in terms of technology or registry reforms, or judicial reforms.” Chandrachud also paid tribute to the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament after taking the oath.
Justice Chandrachud’s father Justice YV Chandrachud was the 16th Chief Justice of India serving from 2 February 1978, to 11 July 1985.
Justice Chandrachud is known as a progressive and liberal judge of the country. He is also considered as very sensitive to the fundamental rights of citizens and the most distinctive feature of Justice Chandrachud is known for his tough attitude towards the abusers.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on being sworn in as India’s Chief Justice and wished him a fruitful tenure ahead.
“Congratulations to Dr Justice DY Chandrachud on being sworn in as India’s Chief Justice. Wishing him a fruitful tenure ahead,” PM Modi tweeted.
Justice Chandrachud, born on 11 November 1959, was appointed judge of the Supreme Court on 13 May 2016. He was the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court from 31 October 2013, until his appointment to the Supreme Court. Justice Chandrachud was the judge of the Bombay High Court from 29 March, 2000, until appointment as Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court. He had also served as Additional Solicitor General of India from 1998 until appointment as a judge in the Bombay High Court. He was designated as a senior advocate by the Bombay High Court in June 1998.
Justice Chandrachud has been part of several Constitution benches and landmark verdicts of the top court including on matters relating to the Ayodhya land dispute, right to privacy and adultery.
He was part of the benches which delivered path-breaking judgments on decriminalising same-sex relations after it partially struck down Section 377 of the IPC, validity of the Aadhaar scheme and the Sabarimala issue.
Last month, a bench headed by him expanded the scope of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and the corresponding rules to include unmarried women for abortion between 20-24 weeks of pregnancy.
