SC wants ex-CJI to leave official bungalow

The Supreme Court administration has taken the unprecedented step of writing to the Union government seeking the official Chief Justice residence be urgently vacated and returned to the court's housing pool, noting that its current occupant - former CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud - has stayed beyond the permissible period.

- Utkarsh Anand

A July 1 communication from the Supreme Court, seen by HT, to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has demanded that Bungalow No. 5 on Krishna Menon Marg in Lutyens' Delhi - the designated residence for India's sitting CJI, be vacated immediately.

"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 from a Supreme Court official to the MoHUA secretary. HT has seen this letter.

Justice Chandrachud, who served as the 50th CJI between November 2022 and November 2024, currently occupies the Type VIII bungalow nearly eight months after demitting office. Two successive CJIs - Justices Sanjiv Khanna and the incumbent Bhushan R Gavai - chose not to move into the premises, opting instead to continue living in their previously allotted bungalows.

When contacted, Justice Chandrachud attributed the delay to compelling personal circumstances of 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.

As per the July 1 communication, on December 18, 2024 - just over a month after he retired, Justice Chandrachud wrote to then CJI Khanna, seeking permission to continue residing at 5 Krishna Menon Marg until April 30, 2025.