President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice D.Y. Chandrachud as the 50th Chief Justice of India (CJI), Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said on October 17.
Justice Chandrachud will take oath on November 9, a day after incumbent CJI Justice Uday Umesh Lalit demits office on attaining the age of 65.
“In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, Hon’ble President appoints Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud, Judge, Supreme Court as the Chief Justice of India with effect from 9th November, 22,” Mr. Rijiju tweeted.
While Justice Lalit has a brief tenure of 74 days, Justice Chandrachud will serve as the CJI for two years. He will demit office on November 10, 2024.
Justice Chandrachud, presently the seniormost Supreme Court judge after Justice Lalit, was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 13, 2016.
Also read: Profile | Justice Chandrachud whose dissents are as powerful as his judgments
Before his appointment to the top court, Justice Chandrachud served as the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court from October 31, 2013. He also served as a Judge of the Bombay High Court from March 2000 to October 2013.
Justice Chandrachud, who sees dissent as the “safety valve” of democracy, is known for his profound judgments and his dissenting opinions have not only pricked the conscience of the powerful but, at times, even overshadowed the main judgment. His notable Supreme Court judgments include recognising the right to privacy as a fundamental right, decriminalisation of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and allowing women to enter Kerala’s Sabarimala temple among others.
