After serving for over two years, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud is expected to step down on November 10, 2024, leaving a lasting impact in the Indian court. During his tenure, he delivered major decisions that have influenced the nation’s legal system.
Chandrachud has been a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and was involved in the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to decriminalise same-sex relationships in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, which established a precedent for equality.
In the seminal ruling in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), Chandrachud played a pivotal role in upholding the right to privacy as an essential right, hence influencing matters of data security and individual liberty.
Through decisions that recognised equal rights in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997) and prohibited sexual harassment in the workplace, Chandrachud has fought for gender equality. Women are now permitted to serve in combat capacities in the armed services.
Chandrachud joined the Supreme Court in 2016 and was already a well-respected member before being appointed CJI. Not only has there been courtroom drama throughout his tenure as CJI, but genuine progress has also occurred.
Let’s not mince words, though; he has also had to deal with a backlog of cases that is over 80,000 and still pending hearings. He has made an effort to take on that significant issue head-on. He obviously recognises the need to provide justice quickly, not just for the benefit of the system but also for the people who depend on it.
He seems to be considering how he will be remembered and has taken this task seriously. He has spoken openly the weight of duty that comes with leading the court and appears to sincerely care about the consequences of his job.
Beginning on November 11, 2024, Justice Sanjiv Khanna will assume the role of Chief Justice. This is a significant change. In addition to addressing the current difficulties the court has, Khanna will have to keep up the momentum Chandrachud has established. We’ll be closely observing him to see how he handles this new phase since he is under a lot of strain.
