Dr Justice D Y Chandrachud: the most famous CJI of India
Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, often referred to as DYC in legal circles, has built a distinguished and impactful career in India’s judiciary, marked by his progressive approach, commitment to justice, and deep empathy. Known for his balanced and fair judicial reasoning, Justice Chandrachud has earned a reputation for being both a compassionate and principled judge. His legal journey has been influential, shaping key areas of law in India, particularly concerning human rights, constitutional freedoms, and the rule of law. On November 9, 2022, he was appointed as the Chief Justice of India (CJI), a position he has used to further advocate for judicial reforms, transparency, and the protection of fundamental rights. His tenure as CJI has been marked by landmark judgments that reflect his belief in progressive legal interpretations, such as his support for gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and privacy. Justice Chandrachud’s leadership is characterized by his ability to blend legal expertise with compassion, ensuring that justice is accessible and fair for all.
EARLY LIFE.
Born on November 11, 1959, Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud hails from a distinguished legal family. He is the only child of Y.V. Chandrachud, who holds the record as India’s longest-serving Chief Justice. His mother, Prabha, was a classical musician with All India Radio. Chandrachud’s education began at prestigious schools, including Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai and St. Columba’s School in Delhi. He then pursued law at Delhi University, where he completed his bachelor’s in law, before furthering his studies with a notable academic tenure at Harvard University.
BEFORE BECOMING CJI
On November 9, 2022, he was appointed as the 50th Chief Justice of India (CJI), he was a Judge of the Supreme Court of India since May 13, 2016. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court from October 31, 2013, until his elevation to the Supreme Court. He had been a judge of the Bombay High Court since March 29, 2000, before becoming the Chief Justice of Allahabad. In addition to his judicial career, he served as the Director of the Maharashtra Judicial Academy and as the Additional Solicitor General of India until his appointment as a judge. Justice Chandrachud was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Bombay High Court in June 1998 and had a distinguished practice at both the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court
NOTABLE JUDGMENTS
Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud is the 50th Chief Justice of India. His tenure as Chief Justice has seen many landmark judgments, changing Indian jurisprudence to a large extent. It is known that he had placed immense emphasis on individual rights, constitutional morality, and social justice. Some of his judgments include the following:
1. Privacy as a Fundamental Right – Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India(2017)
– He was a part of the nine-judge bench that made a unanimous verdict on the question of whether the right to privacy falls within Article 21 of the Indian Constitution or not.
– He was the main author of an important opinion wherein he related privacy to dignity, autonomy, and liberty. He maintained that it was integral to the freedoms provided for in Part III of the Constitution.
– These decisions paved the way for many future judgments about data protection, Aadhaar, and individual liberty.
2. Decriminalization of Homosexuality – Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India(2018)
– It was Justice Chandrachud who was among the five-member Constitutional bench that agreed unanimously to do away with section 377 IPC that criminalizes same-sex, consensual, sexual activities among adults.
– He said in his opinion, the rights to equality, dignity, and privacy of LGBTQ+ persons must prevail. Constitutional morality, he said, must override social morality.
3. Sabarimala Temple Entry –Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala (2018)
– Justice Chandrachud was one of the five judges who held that excluding women of menstruating age from entering the Sabarimala temple violated their constitutional rights to equality and religious freedom.
– In his judgment, he reiterated the need to stand for constitutional morality against patriarchal traditions and further asserted that all such practices against women are unconstitutional.
4. Aadhaar Decision –K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (Aadhaar Case) (2018)
– There, Justice Chandrachud opposed the provision making the linkage of Aadhaar compulsory with any banking and telecom services.
– He termed the Aadhaar Act as an assault on privacy. It was enacted as a Money Bill without due scrutiny by either House of Parliament, and the potential misuse of citizens’ data was cautioned.
– His dissent has been appreciated widely for its forward-looking and rights-centric approach.
5. Decriminalization of Adultery –Joseph Shine v. Union of India (2018)
– Justice Chandrachud was part of the bench that unanimously decriminalized adultery under Section 497 of the IPC.
– He argued that the provision treated women as property and violated their dignity, autonomy, and equality.
– The judgment reinforced the idea that relationships are built on mutual respect and consent, not legal coercion.
6. Live Streaming of Court Proceedings – Swapnil Tripathi v. Supreme Court of India (2018)
– Justice Chandrachud was in support of live streaming of court proceedings to make the judiciary more accessible and transparent before the public eye.
– This judgment highlighted how technology can act as a bridge to bring the judiciary closer to citizens.
7. Abortion Rights – X v. Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department (2022)
– Justice Chandrachud broadened the scope of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act to include unmarried women, guaranteeing equal access to abortion rights.
– His judgment established bodily autonomy and rights related to the reproductive organs as fundamental components of women’s dignity and freedom.
8. EWS Reservation-Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India(2022)
-Justice Chandrachud upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment that introduced a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in education and government jobs.
– But he objected to the total exclusion of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, raising the issue of classification.
9. Demonetization Case–Vivek Narayan Sharma v. Union of India(2023)
-In this case, Justice Chandrachud upheld the constitutionality of the 2016 demonetization exercise by the government, arguing that the process was compliant with the constitutional procedure.
– He emphasized the role of judicial review in ensuring that executive actions comply with the law.
10. Environment and Sustainable Development – M.C. Mehta Cases
– Justice Chandrachud has delivered several judgments in environmental cases, emphasizing the need for sustainable development and environmental conservation.
– He insisted that economic development cannot be done at the expense of environmental deterioration.
PIONEERING REFORMS
Under Justice Chandrachud’s leadership, the Supreme Court underwent significant reforms. One notable change was the redesign of the iconic Lady Justice statue, now depicted in a sari and holding the Constitution instead of a sword, reflecting India’s distinct cultural identity. He also introduced partial court working days during the summer to address long-standing issues related to prolonged court vacations. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Justice Chandrachud spearheaded efforts to ensure the live-streaming of court proceedings across all courts and tribunals, marking a pioneering step towards greater transparency and accessibility.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud’s time at the Supreme Court of India has been marked by significant judicial contributions and innovative reforms that have reshaped Indian law and the judiciary. Renowned for his progressive and fair approach, he has delivered landmark judgments in areas such as human rights, gender equality, privacy, freedom of speech, and personal liberty, with decisions in cases like Right to Privacy, Sabarimala, and the decriminalization of adultery playing a pivotal role in strengthening constitutional rights.
Beyond his legal decisions, Justice Chandrachud has implemented meaningful institutional changes, including redesigning the Lady Justice statue to symbolize India’s cultural identity, introducing partial working days for courts to address lengthy vacation periods, and advocating for the live-streaming of court proceedings to improve transparency and access to justice. His leadership continues to leave a lasting impact on the legal system, advancing the principles of equality, justice, and individual rights while modernizing the judiciary to meet the needs of a democratic society.
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