Justice DY Chandrachud Retires, Leaves Enduring Legacy in Judiciary

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud concluded his tenure as the 50th Chief Justice of India on Sunday, after two years marked by groundbreaking rulings and significant reforms. His leadership has left a lasting impact on the Indian judiciary, shaping its future with transformative decisions and a focus on judicial independence, transparency, and accessibility.

Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s Legacy as 50th Chief Justice of India

Tenure and Legacy

• Justice D.Y. Chandrachud retired as the 50th Chief Justice of India after a transformative two-year tenure.
• Known for landmark rulings and judicial reforms that shaped Indian society and legal history.
• Served as a judge in the Supreme Court for 8 years, participating in 38 constitution benches.

Key Judgements

1. Ayodhya Land Dispute: Author of the 2019 Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid verdict, resolving a century-old dispute.
2. Abrogation of Article 370: Unanimous verdict in 2019 supporting the revocation of Article 370, ending Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
3. Decriminalization of Gay Sex: Contributed to striking down Section 377 of the IPC, decriminalizing consensual same-sex relations.
4. Right to Privacy: Part of a nine-judge bench that declared privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21.
5. Living Will: Key part of the landmark judgment recognizing the right to passive euthanasia for terminally ill patients.
6. Medical Termination of Pregnancy: Expanded the scope of the MTP Act, allowing unmarried women and transgender individuals to access abortion between 20-24 weeks of pregnancy.

Administrative Reforms

• Introduced a Supreme Court accessibility audit to ensure the courts are accessible to the common man and are disabled-friendly.
• Led digitization of court records and processes under the e-Courts project.

Controversial Moments

• In his final days, stirred controversy with a public statement about praying for a solution to the Ayodhya dispute, drawing mixed reactions.
• Summer Vacation: Rechristened the summer vacation period as “partial court working days,” which drew criticism for long judicial breaks.

Cultural Influence

• Introduced a reimagined ‘Lady Justice’ statue, replacing the traditional Grecian image with a six-foot-tall figure holding scales and the Constitution, symbolizing justice in modern India.

Academic and Professional Background

• Educated at Delhi’s St Stephen’s College, Campus Law Centre, Harvard Law School (LLM and Doctorate).
• Judge of the Bombay High Court (2000), Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court (2013), before being elevated to the Supreme Court in 2016.

Family Legacy

• Justice Chandrachud followed in the footsteps of his father, Y.V. Chandrachud, who served as India’s longest-tenured CJI from 1978-1985.
• Both father and son are the only father-son pair to serve as Chief Justices of India.

Personal Interests

• Known for his love of cricket, he was reportedly an enthusiastic player in his younger days.

Impact on Indian Judiciary

• Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s legacy is defined by his transformative rulings, judicial reforms, and expansion of fundamental rights, particularly in areas concerning individual privacy, rights of marginalized communities, and judicial accessibility.
• His leadership has profoundly impacted the Indian judicial system, making it more inclusive, transparent, and digitally advanced, with a commitment to justice for all.