Judicial freedom doesn't mean orders go one way

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Saturday emphasised the importance of restraint in the Supreme Court's use of judicial powers when it comes to appointments within the judiciary, pushed back against the belief that judges must be atheists to remain objective, and underlined that true independence of the judiciary allows judges to decide impartially, regardless of whether the outcome favours or challenges the government.

- Utkarsh Anand

As he prepares to step down on November 10, the CJI delivered a candid reflection on his tenure in an interview with HT, highlighting a vision for India's judiciary centred around judicial independence, restrained use of judicial power in appointments, and stronger support for bail at the trial court level.

"The Supreme Court should be very careful in using its judicial powers to facilitate judicial appointments," the CJI said, underscoring the need for "constitutional statesmanship" and open dialogue with the government rather than resorting to judicial intervention in the appointment process.

Addressing judicial independence, he challenged the notion that a judge's personal beliefs compromise impartiality, while urging the courts to support trial courts in granting bail to avoid undue detention before conviction.