The transfer got here amid allegations by the highest court docket’s administration that the previous CJI overstayed past the permitted period following his retirement. Below Rule 3B of the Supreme Court docket Judges (Modification) Guidelines, 2022, a retired CJI can retain a kind VII bungalow for a most interval of six months.
Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has vacated the official residence allotted to the CJI, practically a month after the Supreme Court docket administration wrote to the Centre urging his eviction. The transfer got here amid allegations by the highest court docket’s administration that the previous CJI had overstayed past the permitted period following his retirement. Responding to the problem, Chandrachud had clarified that the delay in vacating the bungalow was as a consequence of private causes, which he had communicated prematurely to each the Supreme Court docket administration and successive Chief Justices.
Prime court docket sought Centre’s intervention
Final month, in an unprecedented transfer, the Supreme Court docket administration had written to the Centre for vacating the official residence of the Chief Justice of India at Krishna Menon Marg in Delhi. In a communication on July 1 to the Ministry of Housing and City Affairs (MoHUA), the apex court docket administration mentioned the designated residence for the sitting Chief Justice of India — Bungalow No. 5 on Krishna Menon Marg — be vacated and returned to the court docket’s housing pool, information company PTI had reported citing sources.
Guidelines enable six-month retention
Below Rule 3B of the Supreme Court docket Judges (Modification) Guidelines, 2022, a retired Chief Justice of India can retain sort VII bungalow, a degree beneath the 5, Krishna Menon Marg bungalow, for a most interval of six months post-retirement. Justice Chandrachud, who has served because the fiftieth CJI between November 2022 and November 2024, was occupying the official residence of Chief Justice of India practically eight months after demitting workplace.
Former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, who succeeded Justice Chandrachud, selected to not transfer into the official lodging throughout his six months tenure. Even incumbent CJI BR Gavai opted to proceed residing in a beforehand allotted bungalow.
Extension granted as a consequence of renovation
On December 18, final 12 months, Justice Chandrachud had written to then CJI Khanna requesting him to permit him proceed residing within the 5, Krishna Menon Marge residence until April 30, 2025, saying though he has been allotted Bungalow No. 14 on Tughlak Street in accordance with 2022 guidelines, renovation work on the new residence was occurring. Then CJI Khanna had given his nod pursuant to which MoHUA authorised the retention of the sort VIII bungalow at Krishna Menon Marg by Justice Chandrachud from December 11, 2024, to April 30, 2025 on fee of licence charges of round Rs 5,000 per 30 days.
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