Ex CJI Chandrachud overstaying in official house, Supreme Court seeks removal
In a communication on July 1 to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs , the apex court administration said the designated residence for the sitting Chief Justice of India Bungalow No. 5 on Krishna Menon Marg be vacated and returned to the court's housing pool, sources said.
The letter requested the MoHUA secretary to take possession of the bungalow from the former CJI without any further delay as not only the permission that was granted to him for retention of the accommodation expired on May 31, 2025 but also the period of six months provided under the 2022 Rules on May 10, 2025.
Under Rule 3B of the Supreme Court Judges Rules, 2022, a retired Chief Justice of India can retain type VII bungalow, a level below the 5, Krishna Menon Marg bungalow, for a maximum period of six months post-retirement.
Justice Chandrachud, who has served as the 50th CJI between November 2022 and November 2024, is currently occupying the official residence of Chief Justice of India nearly eight months after demitting office.
Former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, who succeeded Justice Chandrachud, chose not to move into the official accommodation during his six months tenure. Even incumbent CJI BR Gavai opted to continue living in a previously allotted bungalow.
On December 18, last year, Justice Chandrachud has written to then CJI Khanna requesting him to allow him continue residing in the 5, Krishna Menon Marge residence till April 30, 2025, saying although he has been allotted Bungalow No. 14 on Tughlak Road in accordance with 2022 rules, renovation work at the new residence was going on.
Then CJI Khanna gave his nod pursuant to which MoHUA approved the retention of the type VIII bungalow at Krishna Menon Marg by Justice Chandrachud from December 11, 2024, to April 30, 2025 on payment of licence fees of around ₹5,000 per month.
The ministry conveyed the approval to the Supreme Court administration by a letter of February 13, 2025.
Subsequently, Justice Chandrachud made an oral request to then CJI Khanna to continue residing in the same residence till May 31, 2025, which was also approved by the then CJI with a condition that no further extension would be granted as several new judges had to put in guest houses or have to make alternate arrangements for accommodation in the national capital.
The July 1 letter of apex court administration further flagged the breach of both the timelines and the legal framework, and said the Krishna Menon Marg residence was permitted due to "special circumstances", the understanding was that it would be vacated after the agreed-upon extension till May-end.
It requested the Centre to take possession of the official CJI bungalow without any further delay and inform the Supreme Court.
The communication of this nature to the government is a rarity for vacating the official CJI residence that too from the former CJI.
According to sources, many CJIs have been informally granted extension to stay in the official residence for a limited time of a couple of months, till they make appropriate arrangements for their accommodation post retirement.
Sources confirm that Justice Chandrachud in his earlier communications has informed the apex court about the delay in moving out of the 5, Krishna Menon Marg residence in view of making the Tughlak Road Bungalow liveable for his family especially his two daughters with special needs, who are undergoing treatment at AIIMS.
Sources also confirm that Justice Chandrachud has written to then CJI Khanna in April informing him that he was in process of shortlisting of an accommodation in accordance with the special needs of his daughters and urged extension of time for vacating the official residence till June 30.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
24 minutes ago
- Hans India
TG Cricket Assn files complaint over alleged fund misuse
Hyderabad: The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) district committees have lodged police complaints against the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) across various districts, alleging the misuse of funds earmarked for cricket development over the past two decades. District committees from Khammam, Warangal, Adilabad, and Mahbubnagar have approached their respective Superintendents of Police. Dharam Guruva Reddy, General Secretary of the TCA, stated that the HCA has consistently claimed in its annual accounts to have allocated Rs 20 lakh annually for cricket development. However, a forensic audit conducted by E&Y reportedly found no evidence of these funds being spent in the districts. Guruva Reddy highlighted that both the High Court-appointed committee and two Supreme Court-appointed committees had previously recommended investigating and punishing those responsible for the alleged fund misuse. Despite these recommendations, he claims that successive elected bodies governing the HCA have ignored and bypassed these directives. Consequently, four TCA district units have submitted criminal complaints against HCA-related clubs in their respective districts. The TCA plans to submit similar complaints against other district-named clubs on Tuesday. The association is demanding appropriate criminal action against all clubs involved in siphoning off what it describes as 'publicly accountable funds' intended for the upliftment of underprivileged and rural cricketers in Telangana State.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Can legislative committees interfere in Revenue deptt work?
Representative imageRepresentative image SC to examine their power to interfere in quasi-judicial functions New Delhi: Can parliamentary and legislative committees interfere in the quasi-judicial work of the revenue department? The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine this question arising from the directions issued by a parliamentary committee in the UP Assembly in a land dispute case. Appearing for a petitioner, senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari told a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi that multiple directions have been issued by the Uttar Pradesh govt, on the instructions of legislative committees, to revenue officers asking them to take 'necessary action' and submit report on the land dispute. 'Such directions directly and substantially impinge on free and independent adjudication by the revenue authorities in pending proceedings,' Tiwari said, which prompted the bench to entertain the petition and say that the question of law arising in this case is – 'Whether legislative committees can interfere in quasi-judicial functions of revenue authorities?' The issue pertained to demarcation and determination of possession of a plot, which according to the petitioner could be gone into by the competent authority, in this case the sub-divisional magistrate, under the UP Revenue Code. Tiwari said a proper and effective adjudication by the revenue authorities is not possible if there is regular and constant interference from the legislative Committees. He said the Allahabad HC erred by failing to issue appropriate directions to prevent interference by political authorities in the adjudicatory process before Revenue Authorities. The petitioner informed SC that he had filed a complaint before the Assistant Collector, Meja, Prayagraj under section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006 against one R P Shukla, who using his influence, had encroached upon the public lands causing great hardships and obstruction to people in pursuing their agricultural activities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo 'While the petitioner was diligently pursuing the remedies available to him under the law, questions were being raised in the Vidhan Sabha and directions were being issued by the Secretariat to Revenue Officers asking them to take necessary action and to submit report regarding the land dispute concerning RP Shukla,' he alleged.
Hans India
39 minutes ago
- Hans India
BJP chief calls for agitation against Congress govt's failures
Hyderabad: Telangana State BJP President N. Ramchander Rao has urged party workers to gear up for a strong agitation against the anti-people policies of the Congress government, accusing it of failing to fulfill the promises made during the elections. Addressing party workers in Nalgonda and Suryapet on the first day of his two-day tour in the Nalgonda district on Monday, he said the people of Telangana have begun to regret voting the Congress to power, having been misled by its hollow promises that deceived both farmers and students. He asserted that the public is now looking towards the BJP as the only political force capable of establishing a 'golden and truly democratic government' that represents the poor and downtrodden. 'Let us build a Viksit Telangana with a double engine sarkar—with governments at both the state and the Centre. I appeal to the people to give BJP a chance in the next elections,' Rao stated. Speaking on ensuing local body elections, he said that the party will contest in all places independently. During his two-day tour of the Nalgonda and Suryapet districts, Rao asked party workers to prepare for all upcoming elections, including the proposed local body elections. He confirmed that BJP would contest independently at every level, from village panchayats to ZPTC seats. The former MLC criticized the state government on the issue of ration cards and welfare schemes and demanded that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy-led Congress government ensure ration cards for all eligible poor families. He alleged that the distribution was being politically manipulated to benefit only Congress supporters. He criticized the state government for taking credit for the free rice scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which is fully funded by the Centre. Besides, the state government had even removed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photos from ration shops to downplay central contributions. Reiterating his party's stand on the religion-based reservations, he said, on the contentious issue of 42% BC reservations, Ramchander Rao clarified that the BJP supports social justice but opposes religion-based quotas. He said such reservations would harm the backward classes and violate constitutional principles. He noted that the Supreme Court had already struck down similar religion-based quotas in the past. He urged the Backward Classes (BC) community to mobilize and protest against the Congress government's misuse of the reservation policy. Terming the Congress party as a puppet of the Gandhi family, he accused Congress of becoming a 'slave to the Sonia Gandhi family.' And termed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy as a pawn in their hands. 'Just as we fought against the Nizam rule to liberate Telangana, we must now fight to free Telangana from the clutches of the Gandhi family,' Rao declared. Raising the issue of Urea supply to Telangana, the state BJP chief refuted Congress' allegations of urea shortage being caused by the Centre. He stated that the central government had supplied 12 lakh metric tonnes of urea. This, against the state government's request of nine lakh metric tonnes. 'Who is responsible for the black marketing and scarcity? The state government must be held accountable,' he said. Earlier, when the Rao began his two-day tour from Nalgonda, he interacted with farmers, youth, intellectuals, and party workers. He received a warm welcome from BJP workers and local associations en route. At Chowtuppal, senior BJP leader G. Manohar Reddy described Rao as a 'silent missile' who would expose and defeat the deceitful governance of both the Congress and BRS. Before addressing a massive party workers' gathering in Nalgonda town, Rao visited the Venkateshwara Temple and paid tribute by garlanding the statue of Gundagoni Maisamma Goud, a martyr of Naxalite violence. In Suryapet, Rao inaugurated the district BJP office and hoisted the party flag, marking the beginning of a new phase of grassroots mobilization in the region. Senior party leaders District BJP President Nagam Varshat Reddy, Anji Reddy – MLC, former MP Burra Narsaiah Goud, former MLA Shanampudi Saidireddy, State Vice President Gangidi Manohar Reddy, State General Secretary Kasam Venkateshwarlu attended the Nalgonda meeting with large participation, especially by women party workers. Rao concluded the first day of his tour with a night halt in his native village Nallabandagudem, located in the Kodad Assembly constituency. He will resume his campaign on Tuesday with visits to local temples and continued interaction with the public.
