`The Supreme Court administration has accused former Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, of overstaying in his official residence at 5, Krishna Menon Marg.
In a letter to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, seeking the removal of the ex-CJI from the residence. The letter to the Centre sought that the official chief justice residence be urgently vacated and returned to the court’s housing pool.
“I am to request you to take the possession of Bungalow No. 5, Krishna Menon Marg, from Hon’ble Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud without any further delay as not only the permission that was granted for retention… has expired on 31st May, 2025, but also the period of six months provided in Rule 3B of the 2022 Rules has expired on 10th May, 2025,” read the letter dated July 1 from a Supreme Court official
Sources told Times Now that the former CJI had urged the current chief justice for an extension so as to allow the Public Works Department (PWD) to complete the repair works at his new residence for his specially abled daughters.
Sources in Justice Chandrachud’s office told Times Now: “Just a matter of few days, Luggage is packed up”
The office of Justice Chandrachud attributed the delay to personal circumstances about which the Supreme Court administration was “fully informed”. He clarified that he had already been allotted alternative accommodation by the government on rent for a limited period, and was only waiting for it to be made liveable after years of disuse. PWD has almost completed repair, renovation work.
“It’s just a matter of a few days before he leaves. The luggage is all packed up,” the official added.
The source further said, “Since Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who later became CJI, was not occupying the official residence, Justice Chandrachud was allowed to stay on at the residence till April 30, after which he was allotted an alternate accommodation. But it required a lot of repair and was not wheelchair accessible, and both his differently abled adopted daughters are wheelchair bound.
When Justice Chandrachud urged Justice Khanna to give an extension, he said an extension can be considered, but he heard nothing in this regard from the new CJI BR Gavai, who had also decided not to occupy the official residence. Both Justice Khanna and Justice Gavai had short tenures as CJI, so they decided not to shift to the official residence.
In a letter to SC, Justice Chandrachud had said that although he had been allotted Bungalow No. 14 on Tughlak Road in accordance with Rule 3B of the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Rules, 2022, renovation work at the new residence had been stalled due to pollution-related construction restrictions under GRAP-IV.
Sources in Justice Chandrachud’s office told Times Now: “He had already been allotted an accommodation by the government on rent, the house is currently under renovation because it was shut for the last at least two years. He informed the Supreme Court about this allotment, making it clear he will shift the very next day that the house is ready.
The delay was, in part, due to the needs of his family, particularly his two daughters, both of whom require special care. “He has two daughters with special needs, which is why it has taken some time to look for a house appropriate for their needs,” the source said.
“His daughters have severe comorbidities and genetic problems, particularly nemaline myopathy, for which they are being treated by specialists at AIIMS. “This is something he has already discussed with the judges and the officers in the Supreme Court,” the source further added.