New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday administered the oath of office to Justice D.Y. Chandrachud as the 50th Chief Justice of India.
Soon after taking oath Chandrachud assured that he would protect all Indians and that serving the nation was his priority.
Talking to the reporters, CJI said: “To serve the nation is my priority. We’ll protect all the citizens of India, be it in terms of technology or registry reforms, or judicial reforms.”
Chandrachud also paid tribute to the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament after taking the oath.
Justice Chandrachud took the oath at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was attended by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, former Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit, Supreme Court judges and other dignitaries.
On October 11, former Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit named Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, the senior most judge in the Supreme Court, as his successor. Justice Lalit retired on November 8.
Justice Chandrachud is known as a progressive and liberal judge of the country. He is also considered as very sensitive to the fundamental rights of citizens and the most distinctive feature of Justice Chandrachud is known for his tough attitude towards the abusers.
Justice Chandrachud, born on November 11, 1959, was appointed judge of the Supreme Court on May 13, 2016.
Justice Chandrachud practised in the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court. He passed BA with honours in economics from St Stephen’s College, New Delhi, and completed LLB from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University.
He also served as the Additional Solicitor General of India from 1998 till 2000. He was first appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court on March 29, 2000. On May 13, 2016, he was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court.
Justice Chandrachud has also served as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court since October 31, 2013 until his elevation as an apex court judge.
Justice Chandrachud has been a visiting Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law at the University of Mumbai and at Oklahoma University School of Law, US. In June, 1998, he was designated as the senior advocate by the Bombay High Court.
Justice Chandrachud is the son of former Supreme Court judge Y.V. Chandrachud, who was the longest serving CJI for being in office for about seven years and four months between 1978 to 1985.
During his tenure, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud overturned two judgments of his father — which were related to adultery and the right to privacy.
For the first time in the history of the judiciary, father and son have become CJI.
Last Month the federal government had notified the name of Dr Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud, Judge of the Supreme Court, as the Chief Justice of India, with effect from November 9, 2022.
The press statement issued in this regard stated that “In exercise of the power conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Dr Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud, Judge of the Supreme Court, as the Chief Justice of India, with effect from November 9, 2022.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Justice Chandrachud and wished him a fruitful tenure ahead.
“Congratulations to Dr Justice DY Chandrachud on being sworn in as India’s Chief Justice. Wishing him a fruitful tenure ahead,” PM Modi tweeted.
