After massive controversy over his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Ganesh Puja at his residence in October, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who is retiring on November 10, has clarified about the meeting. The CJI said that such meeting are routine and judges of constitutional courts are mature enough to keep constitutional matter apart from heads of executives.
CJI Chandrachud made the reported remark during Loksatta annual lecture. According to the CJI, Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of high courts hold regular meetings as a regular practice.
‘Great deal of respect to judiciary’
The CJI maintained even the political class in the country have a great deal of respect towards the judiciary. He said it is the state that grants budget to the judiciary and this budget is not for the judges. The meeting between chief ministers and judges are necessary as there is need for more courts and residences for judges, he said.
Chandrachud, who earlier served as Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, further added that the newly appointed Chief Justice of a high court goes to a chief minister’s house with a set agenda. “The two discuss priorities for new projects and if these things happened to discuss through letters, then these projects will never be completed,” the CJI maintained.
Soon after the visuals of CJI DY Chandrachud meeting with PM Modi went viral, controversy erupted over the purpose of the meeting, while the Opposition raised doubts on the meeting. Following the meet, Shiv Sena (Uddhav) leader Sanjay Raut urged the CJI to recuse himself from a case related to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena tussle.
