Will vacate official bungalow ahead of deadline: CJI Gavai

Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai on Thursday said that he will vacate his official residence before the deadline mandated under the Supreme Court Judges Rules, even as he acknowledged personal constraints in securing a new home before his retirement on November 24.

- Utkarsh Anand

The statement, coming just days after the Supreme Court administration formally asked the Union government to evict former CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud from the official residence of a serving CJI, acquires added significance. “Till 24th of November, I will not find time to find a suitable house. But I can assure you that whatever time is permissible as per the rules, I will be shifting before that,” CJI Gavai said at a farewell event for Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, who demits office on August 9. The rules entitle a judge to retain a government residence for a month post-retirement. In the case of a retired CJI, Rule 3B of the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Rules, 2022, permits six months’ rent-free stay in a Type VII accommodation, but not the Type VIII bungalow allotted to a serving CJI.