Former CJI DY Chandrachud Joins NLU Delhi as Distinguished Professor

In a significant move for Indian legal academia, former Chief Justice of India Dr. DY Chandrachud has been appointed as a Distinguished Professor at National Law University (NLU), Delhi. Widely acknowledged as a progressive judicial thinker, his association with NLU Delhi marks a transformative chapter in the university’s academic and research endeavours.

Why in News?

This appointment is currently in the spotlight because, DY Chandrachud recently retired in November 2024 after completing his two-year tenure as the 50th Chief Justice of India. NLU Delhi announced the appointment on May 15, 2025, and stated that he will guide advanced legal research through the new Centre for Constitutional Studies.

Objectives and Role

• To enrich legal education with experiential insights from the Supreme Court.
• Guide advanced research at the Centre for Constitutional Studies.
• Launch a new lecture series titled “In the Spirit of Justice: The DYC Distinguished Lecture Series” starting July 2025.

Background

• DY Chandrachud served as CJI from November 2022 to November 2024.
• Served as judge in Bombay High Court (2000) and later as Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court (2013).
• Appointed Supreme Court judge in 2016.

Known for judgments on,

• Right to Privacy
• Decriminalisation of same-sex relations
• Ayodhya Verdict
• Abrogation of Article 370

Static Information

• Designated Senior Advocate in 1998.
• Served as Additional Solicitor General before joining the judiciary.
• Known for advocating constitutional morality and transformative constitutionalism.

Significance

• Reinforces NLU Delhi’s role as a hub for legal research.
• Connects judicial reasoning with academic discourse.
• Encourages students to engage with real-world constitutional challenges.