GUWAHATI: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud is set to retire on Sunday, November 10, with Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the Supreme Court’s senior-most judge, set to succeed him.
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On his last day in court, Justice Chandrachud praised Justice Khanna as a stable and capable leader who would continue strengthening India’s judicial system.
Justice Chandrachud’s rulings have significantly influenced Indian law, protecting individual rights and advancing democratic principles. Notable decisions included affirming the constitutional right to privacy (2017), decriminalising same-sex relationships by overturning Section 377 (2018), and striking down the discriminatory adultery law under Section 497 (2018).
He also emphasised public safety by ordering the demolition of Noida’s Supertech towers for building violations (2021) and upheld the Delhi government’s authority in most administrative functions in a dispute with the Lieutenant Governor (2023).
Additionally, he played a key role in the unanimous resolution of the century-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in 2019, allowing for temple construction and bringing closure to a deeply divisive issue.
Justice Chandrachud had begun his career as a lawyer in the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court, and was also involved in teaching constitutional law at the University of Mumbai.