CJI Chandrachud: CJI DY Chandrachud, who has given decisive verdicts in many important cases, is retiring on November 10. They now have only four working days. During this time he also has to give his decision on many important matters. Justice DY Chandrachud, who attended an event of the Indian Express Group on Monday, gave a blunt answer on the independence of the judiciary and said that the independence of the judiciary does not always mean giving verdict against the government.
He said that some pressure groups are trying to use electronic media to put pressure on the courts to give verdict in their favor. He said, if the judge gives a decision in favor of the pressure group, then that group calls the judiciary independent. The CJI also expressed his views regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the PMO, his official residence, on Ganpati Puja and electoral bonds.
CJI also talked about going to PMO
At the same time, he also expressed his views regarding visiting the PMO, the official residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Ganpati Puja. He said there was nothing wrong in it. There is a need for a sense of maturity in political circles on such matters. In fact, many opposition parties and lawyers under the leadership of Congress had raised questions regarding CJI going to PMO.
our society has changed
The CJI said, traditionally judicial independence was defined as independence from the executive. Independence of the judiciary still means independence from the government, but that is not the only thing that matters when it comes to judicial independence. Our society has changed. Especially after the advent of social media. You see interest groups, pressure groups and groups that are using electronic media to try to put pressure on the courts to take favorable decisions.
Said- When electoral bonds were canceled then they were called independent
The CJI said, when you take a decision on electoral bonds, you are very independent, but if the decision goes in favor of the government, then you are not independent. This is not my definition of freedom. He said that judges should be given freedom to decide on cases.
Regarding the pressure of the pressure group, the CJI said, if you do not decide in my favor, then you are not independent. This is my objection. He said that to be independent, a judge must have the freedom to take decisions according to his discretion, of course, that discretion is guided by the law and the Constitution. Chandrachud said he was called independent when he ruled against the government and canceled the electoral bonds.
