A political storm brewed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Ganpati Puja celebrations at the residence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud. The visit sparked criticism from the Shiv Sena (UBT), which suggested it might raise concerns about judicial impartiality in the minds of the public. In response, the BJP defended the visit, clarifying that it was purely for Ganpati Puja and part of cultural traditions.Opposition raises concernsThe controversy began when Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut expressed his doubts about a “custodian of the Constitution” meeting with politicians. He warned that such interactions could cast doubt on the judiciarys impartiality, especially with ongoing cases involving the Prime Minister. Raut advised CJI Chandrachud to recuse himself from a case concerning the Uddhav Thackeray camps challenge to the Maharashtra Speakers decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the legitimate Shiv Sena.“Our case is before the CJI, and we fear we may not receive justice since the Prime Minister is involved. The Chief Justice should distance himself from this case due to his evident association with the other party,” Raut remarked.Broader criticismRaut further listed recent Supreme Court cases where the opposition did not receive favourable rulings, mentioning the Kolkata rape-murder case and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals bail hearing. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticised the judiciary, sarcastically commenting on the delay in concluding the Maharashtra hearings, hinting at political motivations.BJP defends the visitIn defense, BJP leaders dismissed the oppositions claims. BJP MP Milind Deora slammed the criticism as a reckless attempt to undermine the credibility of the CJI, calling it irresponsible and damaging to the judiciarys integrity. BL Santhosh, BJP national secretary, rebuked those politicising the Prime Ministers visit, stressing the importance of cultural unity.Social media buzzThe debate reached social media, where senior advocate Indira Jaising condemned Modis visit, accusing the CJI of compromising the judiciarys independence. Santhosh, however, countered by recalling past instances when former CJI attended Iftar parties hosted by then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, arguing that such gatherings were previously seen as secular and non-controversial.
