‘Will serve common people’

PNS | New Delhi

Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, who was part of several Constitution benches and landmark verdicts of the Supreme Court, was on Wednesday sworn in as the 50th Chief Justice of India, stepping into the shoes of his father 44 years after he became the country’s top judge. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Chandrachud, the senior most judge of the Supreme court who was involved in historic judgements like on the Ayodhya issue that paved the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Uttar Pradesh and Right to Privacy, at a brief ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Justice Chandrachud took the oath in English and in the name of God. Justice  Chandrachud, often referred to as DYC in legal circles and who is known for giving law a human face, began his first day as the CJI garlanding the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Supreme Court premises.

“Serving common people is my priority. Please look forward. I will work for all the citizens of the country. Be it in technology or be it in registry…or be it in judicial reforms, I will take care of citizens in every aspect,” said Justice Chandrachud in his brief interaction with journalists as he took a round of the apex court premises.

Justice Chandrachud, who was accompanied by his wife Kalpana Das, said heading the Indian judiciary was a “great opportunity and responsibility”. In response to a query as to how he will ensure trust of people in judiciary, he said, “I will ensure trust of citizens not only through words but through my work”. Justice Chandrachud, who succeeded Justice UU Lalit, will be the CJI until November 10, 2024, a day before he completes 65 years. Justice Lalit had a short tenure of 74 days. Justice Chandrachud, who had dubbed dissent the “safety valve of democracy” during an earlier court hearing, is the son of the longest serving CJI Y V Chandrachud, who held the top judicial post from February 22, 1978, to July 11, 1985. This is the first instance of a father and son occupying the highest seat of justice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Justice Chandrachud wishing him a fruitful tenure as CJI.

“Congratulations to Dr Justice D Y Chandrachud on being sworn in as India’s Chief Justice. Wishing him a fruitful tenure ahead,” the prime minister tweeted. Vice  President and Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Kiren Rijiju were among other dignitaries present at the oath taking ceremony.