You must have heard about the current CJI of India (Chief Justice of India) D.Y. Chandrachud. Nowadays he is being discussed not only in the country but also abroad. CJI DY Chandrachud is known for his strong style and for delivering justice by going to the root of the case. According to the Constitution of India, the Government of India has three organs: legislature, executive and judiciary. Although the people of India already have a lot of faith in the Indian judiciary, but ever since DY Chandrachud became the Chief Justice of India’s largest court, the Supreme Court, the trust of the people of the country on the Indian judiciary has increased further.
Today we are going to give you complete information about the life of the current CJI of India, DY Chandrachud, so that you can know more about him and his life in detail. So let’s move ahead-
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s Early Life-
Born on November 11, 1959, Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud is the current Chief Justice of India (CJI). He comes from a family of legal giants, his father, Y.V. Chandrachud, was the 16th Chief Justice of India and the longest-serving Chief Justice in Indian history. Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Justice Chandrachud completed his early education at the Cathedral and John Connon School. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. He then obtained a law degree (LLB) from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. For further studies, he went to Harvard University, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Jurisprudence (LLM) and a Doctorate in Jurisprudence (S.J.D.).
Personal Life-
Justice Chandrachud is married. He is married to Kalpana Das and has four children, two sons and two daughters. His personal life has been largely private, with his full focus on his professional responsibilities. Beyond his legal work, Justice Chandrachud also has an interest in education and has contributed to various legal journals and seminars.
Legal Career-
Before becoming a judge, Chandrachud practised as a lawyer and was designated a senior advocate by the Bombay High Court in June 1998. He served as Additional Solicitor General of India from 1998 until his appointment as a judge.
Judicial Career-
Bombay High Court- In 2000, Chandrachud was appointed a judge of the Bombay High Court, where he served for 13 years. Subsequently in 2013, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court. Justice Chandrachud was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on May 13, 2016.
As Chief Justice of India-
He was appointed as the 50th Chief Justice of India on November 9, 2022. His tenure is notable for important judgments and contributions to Indian jurisprudence.
Notable judgments and contributions-
Right to privacy- Justice Chandrachud was part of a nine-judge bench in the landmark case of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v Union of India (2017), which declared the right to privacy as a fundamental right under the Constitution of India.
Decriminalisation of homosexuality- He played a key role in the Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India (2018) judgment, which decriminalised consensual homosexual acts by reading down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
Adultery law- In Joseph Shine v Union of India (2018), he was part of the bench that struck down Section 497 of the IPC, which criminalised adultery.
Sabarimala Judgement- He was part of the majority in the judgement allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
Reversal of ADM Jabalpur case- He also overturned his father’s judgement in the ADM Jabalpur vs Shivakant Shukla case, which held that the fundamental rights of citizens can be suspended during an emergency.
Philosophy and Approach-
Justice Chandrachud is known for his progressive and liberal approach to law and justice. He has often emphasised the importance of the judiciary’s role in upholding individual rights, constitutional ethics and democratic values. His judgements reflect a deep commitment to human rights, gender equality and social justice. DY Chandrachud’s commitment to justice, constitutional principles and landmark judgements have left a lasting impact on India’s legal landscape. His legacy continues to inspire legal professionals and citizens alike