'Lost confidence in CJI,' Opposition on PM Modi's visit to Justice Chandrachud's residence for Ganesh Puja
In a video circulating on social media, Justice Chandrachud, who is set to retire in November 2024, and his wife Kalpana Das, can be seen welcoming the PM at their residence. The move has, however, been criticised by the opposition, who also raised questions about the CJI's impartiality.
A full-blown political war of words has erupted over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the residence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, where he took part in the Ganpati Puja celebrations on Wednesday.
Modi visits CJI's residence
In a video circulating on social media, Justice Chandrachud, who is set to retire in November 2024, and his wife Kalpana Das, can be seen welcoming the PM at their residence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the residence of CJI DY Chandrachud and Ms Kalpana Das to participate in Ganesh Chaturthi Pooja@narendramodi #SupremeCourtOfIndia #CJIDYChandrachud pic.twitter.com/6F4exwOFOF
¡ª Bar and Bench (@barandbench) September 11, 2024
The CJI, who hails from Maharashtra, where Ganesh Puja is a major festival, was seen offering prayers along with his wife and the Prime Minister, marking the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Puja.
"Joined Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI, Justice DY Chandrachud Ji. May Bhagwan Shri Ganesh bless us all with happiness, prosperity, and wonderful health," the PM also said in a post on X.
Joined Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI, Justice DY Chandrachud Ji.
¡ª Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2024
May Bhagwan Shri Ganesh bless us all with happiness, prosperity and wonderful health. pic.twitter.com/dfWlR7elky
The move has, however, been criticised by the opposition, who also raised questions about the CJI's impartiality.
Head of executive, PM Modi, met head of judiciary, CJI Chandrachud, to celebrate Ganpati festival right before Maharashtra Elections.
¡ª Nehr_who? (@Nher_who) September 11, 2024
In a functioning democracy, Executive and Judiciary are supposed to maintain distance.
But we don¡¯t have a functioning democracy so it¡¯s Okay. pic.twitter.com/eTCFPBC9Wa
Shocking that CJI Chandrachud allowed Modi to visit him at his residence for a private meeting. Sends a very bad signal to the judiciary which is tasked with the responsibility of protecting fundamental right of citizens from the executive & ensuring that the govt acts within¡ https://t.co/mstxulCI2P
¡ª Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) September 12, 2024
'Why CJI's residence, and nowhere else?'
"How many people's houses has the Prime Minister visited so far? I don't have the information. The Ganesh festival is celebrated in many places in Delhi, but the Prime Minister went to the Chief Justice's house, and the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice together performed the Aarti," Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said.
Raut further said that the Chief Justice should recuse himself from hearing the case related to which faction is the 'real Shiv Sena', as his 'relations' with the head of the central government are 'openly visible'.
'Question on CJI's independence'
Senior lawyer Indira Jaising said the Chief Justice of India has compromised the separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary.
"Lost all confidence in the independence of the CJI. The SCBA (Supreme Court Bar Association) must condemn this publicly displayed compromise of independence of the CJI from the executive," she said in a social media post.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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