After the Supreme Court administration wrote a letter to the Central Government to vacate the official residence of the Chief Justice of India, former CJI Justice Dhananjay Y Chandrachud has cited his personal compulsions behind the long stay in the bungalow. He said that the delay is due to the needs of his family, as his two daughters are of special requirements.
Justice Chandrachud said, ‘My daughters have serious diseases and genetic problems – especially’ Nemaline Myopathy ‘, for which they are being treated by AIIMS experts.’ He also said that it was taking time to find a suitable house for the family, although he admitted that it was a personal issue. Chandrachud also made it clear that this has already been discussed with the Supreme Court judges and officials.
He insisted that he was fully realized his responsibilities due to being holding the highest judicial post, and he assured that he would leave the bungalow in a few days. Chandrachud also said, “Certainly, in the past, former CJI has been given more time to maintain government housing after retirement, often it is to make changes easy or to meet personal needs.”
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Supreme Court letter to central government
In fact, on 1 July, the Supreme Court wrote a letter to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Mohua). It was said in this letter that Bungalow No. 5 (which is fixed for the current CJI) on Krishna Menon Marg in Lutyens Delhi, should be evacuated immediately.
Let us know that Justice Chandrachud has left the post of CJI only eight months ago, but he is still living in this bungalow of Type VIII. His two successors – Justice Sanjeev Khanna and the current CJI Bhushan R Gawai – want to live in their bungalows already allotted.
According to the Supreme Court letter, Justice Chandrachud wrote a letter to the then CJI Khanna on December 18, 2024 requesting to extend the period of staying in the bungalow till April 30, 2025. He cited the stalled repair work in his newly found bungalow number 14 on Tughlaq Road behind the request due to pollution restrictions (GRAP-IV).
The request was approved by the then CJI Khanna, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs allowed to maintain a license fee of Rs 5,430 per month. Subsequently, Chandrachud made a verbal request to stay in the bungalow till 31 May, 2025, which was allowed with the condition that no further expansion would be given.