NEW DELHI: From leading a bunch of boys while playing cricket in the backyard of the official bungalow of his father and then CJI YV Chandrachud four decades ago, Justice DY Chandrachud moved a step closer to captain the Indian judiciary as incumbent Chief Justice UU Lalit recommended his name to the government for appointment as the next CJI.
Deviating from the tradition of the CJI going to the most senior Supreme Court judge’s chamber to hand over a copy of the recommendation letter he sends to the Union government, CJI Lalit created a new tradition by handing over the letter recommending Justice Chandrachud’s name in presence of all judges. CJI Lalit retires on November 8.
In a matter of days, the President would designate Justice Chandrachud as the next CJI, which would be the final step prior to his taking oath as the 50th CJI on November 9.
That will make Justices YV Chandrachud and DY Chandrachud the first father-son duo to head Indian judiciary.
Deviating from the tradition of the CJI going to the most senior Supreme Court judge’s chamber to hand over a copy of the recommendation letter he sends to the Union government, CJI Lalit created a new tradition by handing over the letter recommending Justice Chandrachud’s name in presence of all judges. CJI Lalit retires on November 8.
In a matter of days, the President would designate Justice Chandrachud as the next CJI, which would be the final step prior to his taking oath as the 50th CJI on November 9.
That will make Justices YV Chandrachud and DY Chandrachud the first father-son duo to head Indian judiciary.
While Chandrachud Jr would have a tenure of two years and two days as CJI, the long tenure of his father as the 16th CJI — seven years, four months and 19 days — would in all probability remain a record, given the trend in the last 37 years. He was CJI from February 1978 to July 1985.
Justice DY Chandrachud, with a boyish smile, fondly recalls graduating in economics honours from St Stephen’s College and completing law from Campus Law Centre, DU, and playing cricket in the backyard of the 5, Krishna Menon Marg bungalow, the CJI’s official residence. As captain of the ragtag team that included his friends and clerks and peons of his CJI father, Justice Chandrachud used to challenge teams at matches played at Tughlaq Crescent.