CJI Chandrachud on PM Modi Ganesh Puja: During the annual Loksatta lecture, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud addressed the controversy surrounding his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Ganesh Puja at the PMs residence in October. With his retirement approaching on November 10, CJI Chandrachud clarified that such interactions between judicial and executive leaders are routine and essential, emphasizing that judges of constitutional courts can maintain clear boundaries between official matters and social meetings.Discussions are customaryAccording to CJI Chandrachud, regular discussions between Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of high courts are customary. The judiciary and political class share mutual respect, he stated, highlighting the critical role of the state in funding the judiciary. This funding, he noted, goes towards infrastructure, not individual judges, as there is a pressing need for more court buildings and judicial accommodations across the nation.Letters ban the project from reaching completionUnderscoring the need for these meetings, CJI Chandrachud explained that newly appointed Chief Justices of high courts often meet with Chief Ministers to discuss priorities and upcoming projects. “If these discussions took place only through letters, the projects would likely never see completion,” he remarked, citing his own experience as Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.The meeting between CJI Chandrachud and PM Modi drew public attention when visuals of the gathering circulated, with some opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena (Uddhav) leader Sanjay Raut, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Raut subsequently called for the CJI to recuse himself from the Shiv Sena leadership case involving Eknath Shinde, which is currently under consideration.
