Beyond permitted interval: Supreme Court seeks removal of ex-CJI Chandrachud from official residence ‘with out further delay’; writes to Centre | India News

Ex-CJI DY Chandrachud (File picture)

NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented transfer, the Supreme Court administration has written to the Centre searching for possession of the official residence of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on the Krishna Menon Marg within the nationwide capital.In a July 1 letter to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the apex court docket administration famous that the present occupant of the residence, former CJI DY Chandrachud, has been staying there past the permissible interval.Justice Chandrachud was the nation’s fiftieth chief justice from November 2022-2024. The present CJI, BR Gavai, is the 52nd chief justice, and took over this May.The Supreme Court administration requested the MoHUA secretary to take possession of Bungalow No. 5, Krishna Menon Marg, “without any further delay,” in order that it’s returned to the court docket’s housing pool. The permission granted to Chandrachud to retain the lodging expired on May 31, the letter said.Under Rule 3B of the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Rules, 2022, a retired Chief Justice of India can retain kind VII bungalow, a degree beneath from the 5, Krishna Menon Marg bungalow, for a most interval of six months post-retirement.Ex-CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who succeeded Justice Chandrachud, selected not to transfer into the official lodging throughout his six months’ tenure. Even incumbent CJI BR Gavai has opted to proceed dwelling in a beforehand allotted bungalow.On December 18 final yr, Justice Chandrachud had written to his successor, requesting the latter’s permission to proceed residing within the 5, Krishna Menon Marge residence until April 30, 2025, saying though he has been allotted Bungalow No. 14 on Tughlak Road in accordance with 2022 guidelines, renovation work on the new residence was happening.Then-CJI Khanna gave his nod, pursuant to which MoHUA permitted the retention of the kind VIII bungalow at Krishna Menon Marg by Justice Chandrachud from December 11, 2024, to April 30, 2025 on fee of licence charges of round Rs 5,000 per 30 days.The ministry conveyed the approval to the Supreme Court administration by a letter of February 13.Subsequently, Justice Chandrachud made an oral request to then CJI Khanna to proceed residing in the identical residence until May 31, which was additionally permitted by the then-CJI albeit with a situation that no further extension can be granted.The July 1 letter of apex court docket administration flagged the breach of each the timelines and the authorized framework, and stated the Krishna Menon Marg residence was permitted due to “special circumstances.”The communication of this nature to the federal government is a rarity for vacating the official CJI residence that too from an ex-CJI.According to authorities sources, prior to now, a number of former CJIs have been informally granted extension to keep within the official residence for a restricted time of two months, until they make acceptable preparations for his or her lodging publish retirement.Sources affirm that Justice Chandrachud in his earlier communications has knowledgeable the apex court docket in regards to the delay in shifting out of the 5, Krishna Menon Marg residence in view of making the Tughlak Road Bungalow habitable for his household particularly his two daughters with particular wants, who’re present process therapy at AIIMS.Sources additionally affirm that Justice Chandrachud has written to then CJI Khanna in April informing him that he was in course of of shortlisting of an lodging in accordance with the particular wants of his daughters and urged extension of time for vacating the official residence until June 30.