New Delhi: Chief Justice of India UU Lalit recommended the name of Justice DY Chandrachud as his successor. Justice Chandrachud will become the 50th CJI. Chief Justice UU Lalit is retiring on November 8 this year. Before making it public CJI urged all judges to assemble in the Judges' lounge. Justice Chandrachud is the seniormost judge in the top court and as per the norms, the seniormost judge is appointed as the CJI.
He had been appointed as the top court judge back on May 13, 2016. Before that, he had served as the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court from October 31, 2013, until his appointment in the top court. Previously he has served as a judge of the Bombay High Court (2000) and as Additional Solicitor General of India (1998). He had practised law in the Bombay High court and the Supreme Court as an advocate.
He has been part of benches that gave path-breaking judgements. Some of them include decriminalisation of section 377, Ayodhya judgement and allowing entry of women in Sabrimala temple. He had also overturned two big judgements delivered by his own father, Justice YV Chandrachud during his tenure as the SC judge.
He holds the reputation of being a rational and neutral judge, who often gives observations questioning the government. He encourages the young advocates to argue in case the senior is not present so that matter is not adjourned and can be disposed of expeditiously and the advocates' skills is also polished. Since CJI UU Lalit took over, loads of cases are listed every day and Justice Chandrachud's bench can be seen sitting late post court hours. He has sat even till 9 pm. The court's working hours end at 4 pm and it used to be rare for the judges to sit post-working hours as cases for the next day and judgements also need to be prepared by them post-hearing.
Justice DY Chandrachud will take oath on November 9, 2022, and will continue to hold the office for two years. Present CJI UU Lalit could hold for just a little over two months and his predecessor Justice NV Ramana had held it for a year. As per the convention, the senior judge is appointed and remains in office till he/she attains the retirement age of 65.
