THE RETIREMENT OF JUSTICE DY CHANDRACHUD: A JURISPRUDENTIAL LUMINARY IN INDIAN LAW
Author – Shreejit Mitra (BALLB 4th Year – Manikchad Pahade Law College)
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s legacy marks the conclusion of a transformative era in Indian legal history. He has stepped down, closing a chapter in Indian legal history. His landmark rulings and unwavering commitment to upholding the constitution set him apart. As a judge, he reshaped our understanding of liberty, dignity, and justice. During his tenure on India’s Supreme Court, he handed down major verdicts that not upheld individual rights but also pushed legal boundaries. This piece examines Justice Chandrachud’s influence on society by looking at his early years, his broad legal philosophy, and his most notable decisions complete with relevant legal citations and contextual details.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND AND EARLY YEARS
Justice Chandrachud kicked off his college years at St. Stephen’s College Delhi earning his bachelor’s in Economics. He then went to Campus Law Centre University of Delhi to get his LL.B. After that, he headed to Harvard Law School for his LL.M. and S.J.D. This early part of his legal journey where he worked as a lawyer in both the Bombay High Court and the Delhi High Court, laid a solid foundation for him to explore constitutional law and human rights issues.
ASCENDANCY IN THE JUDICIARY
Appointed to the Bombay High Court in 2000, Justice Chandrachud’s judicial trajectory was characterized by a steady ascent. He assumed the role of Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court in 2013, before his appointment to the Supreme Court of India on 13 May 2016. During his tenure on the apex bench, he became renowned for authoring judgments that harmonized constitutional mandates with contemporary societal needs.
LANDMARK JUDGEMENTS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDIAN JURISPRUDENCE
The judgments by Justice Chandrachud have reflexes of progressive constitutionalism. His judgments are as follows:
1. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India – (2017) 10 SCC 1, August 24, 2017
This connects to Article 21 of the Indian Constitution Right to Life and Personal Liberty, and Article 14 Equality before the Law. This groundbreaking ruling acknowledged the Right to Privacy as a basic right essential to Article 21. Justice Chandrachud highlighted that privacy forms the “unbreakable heart of human dignity,” which states that control over personal choices is key to constitutional freedoms. His view paved the way for future privacy laws that have a significant impact on digital data protection.
2. Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India – (2018) 10 SCC 1, dated 6th September, 2018
This matter falls under Article 21, Article 14, Article 15(Prohibition of Discrimination), Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Under the insightful voice of Justice Chandrachud, this bench decriminalized Section 377, a colonial law condemning same-sex relationships that occurred with mutual consent. In invoking dignity and privacy, this decision marks one step further toward equality, especially for LGBTQ+ peoples, as per the global human rights benchmark.
This deals with Articles 14, 21, and 110 of the Constitution, Aadhaar Act, 2016. Majority judgment upholding the Aadhaar scheme except for Justice Chandrachud dissenting on possible violation by Aadhaar scheme of privacy of a citizen; mandatory biometrics under it violate Article 21 of the Constitution. This opinion highlights data security and the proportionality doctrine, often hailed as a jurisprudential beacon for the protection of personal data.
It comes within Article 25 (Freedom of Religion), Article 14 of Indian Constitution. Bending the age-old gender conventions, Justice Chandrachud voted for allowing women’s entry to the Sabarimala Temple while bringing his reasoning in interpreting Article 25 to the cause of practices in religious institutions which are fundamentally inclusive.
5. Joseph Shine v. Union of India – (2019) 3 SCC 39 dated 27th September, 2018
It deals with Article 21, Article 14, Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code,1860. In the opinion to strike down Section 497 and hence decriminalise adultery, Justice Chandrachud advanced the cause of individual autonomy in personal relationships. While his stand posited that archaic, moralistic laws had no place in modern constitutional values where equality and liberty have supreme value, he explained.
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s recent landmark rulings in 2023-2024, have shaped governance civil rights, and federalism. Here are some key cases:
1. Delhi Government’s Control over Services (May 2023):
A Constitution Bench backed Delhi’s power over services. This decision confirmed the region’s unique status and strengthened the ideas of representative democracy.
2. Maharashtra Political Crisis (May 2023):
This verdict upheld Mr. Shinde’s government as legitimate. It stated that Thackeray’s resignation ruled out any chance of him returning to power. The ruling also criticized how party whips were appointed affecting how parties operate in state politics.
3. Same-Sex Marriage (October 2023):
The court didn’t recognize same-sex marriage but called for safeguards against discrimination for LGBTQ+ groups. It left the job of making further laws to Parliament.
4. Abrogation of Article 370 (2023):
The court backed the 2019 removal of J&K’s special status. It labeled Article 370 a type of “asymmetric federalism,” which fits with the constitutional structure.
5. Election Commission Reforms (March 2023):
In Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India, the court changed how ECI appointments work. It brought in a balanced committee setup to make sure the ECI stays independent.
6. R. G. Kar Medical College Rape Case (2024):
In the RG Kar Medical College case, as directed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud who turned increasingly skeptical about delays in probe: Identity of the victim removed from media reports he strongly criticised a policy advisory of a state as being unconstitutional. He pleaded for maintaining integrity of the procedural rights and privacy rights to victims; transparency be the motto while the investigating process under the CBI would remain an openbook exercise.
These decisions show how Justice Chandrachud works to understand constitutional ideas. He aims to strengthen democratic systems, civil rights, and federalism in India.
REFLECTIONS IN HIS RETIREMENT SPEECH
Justice D Y Chandrachud delivered a moving farewell speech showcasing his wisdom and honesty. He painted a picture of the judiciary as a protector of democratic values and a shield against authoritarian rule. He highlighted how judicial independence and democracy work hand in hand reminding everyone that courts must stay alert to safeguard the Constitution. He reached out to up-and-coming lawyers and judges urging them to stick to ethical standards and fight for the rights of those on the fringes of society. This way, his vision of a caring and all-embracing judiciary could take deeper root.
LEGACY AND CONCLUSION
It represents a judicial approach that combines intellectual depth with social awareness. His time in office will be known for boosting the Indian courts’ ability to protect civil rights and striving to make citizens feel that democracy offers a better quality of life. He has given Indian law a lasting spirit of forward-thinking constitutionalism and proved himself to be a designer of a legal system that keeps growing more inclusive.
Justice Chandrachud well described it as not only the culmination of a great career but a symbol of a transformative era in Indian jurisprudence. The judgments he pronounced will, in fact, remain perpetual guides to the future interpretations of the Constitution, underlining a commitment to justice that is indeed his greatest legacy.
