As Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud has left an indelible mark on the judicial landscape, presiding over some of the most transformative verdicts in contemporary times. With his retirement set for November 11, 2024, we reflect on his legacy through five landmark constitutional bench cases that he led.
In February 2024, the Supreme Court, under his leadership, unanimously struck down the controversial electoral bonds scheme, citing a lack of transparency. The bench, which included Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, held that the anonymity surrounding political donations violated the public’s right to information, enshrined under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The Court emphasized that transparency is fundamental to democracy, allowing voters to make informed choices, which this scheme undermined.
Another significant case under CJI Chandrachud was the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, granting special status to Jammu & Kashmir. In December 2023, the Court upheld the Central government’s decision, with CJI Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant noting the government’s assurance of restoring statehood to J&K. However, the bifurcation of J&K into Union Territories remained a subject of future determination, with Ladakh’s status as a UT upheld indefinitely.
In October 2023, the Court ruled against recognizing same-sex marriages. Despite a powerful push for equality, the bench, led by CJI Chandrachud, and including Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha, held that marriage rights did not extend to same-sex couples. The majority opinion stressed that while queer individuals could choose their partners, the legal recognition of their unions or civil rights such as adoption must be determined by Parliament.
In May 2023, the Court delivered a landmark judgment affirming the Delhi government’s control over administrative services, except for those concerning land, police, and law and order. This ruling reinforced the democratic authority of the elected government over its officers, enhancing Delhi’s governance structure.
Lastly, in 2022, the Maharashtra political crisis saw another vital ruling. The Court, while ruling that the Governor’s call for a floor test was premature, refused to reinstate Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister because he resigned voluntarily, avoiding the test.
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