Shreya Gupta
Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has said that he will vacate his official residence within the period allowed by the rules, even though he may not find a suitable house before his retirement in November. His remark appeared to be a subtle swipe at former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, who retired on November 8, 2024, but moved out of his official accommodation only recently.
The issue gained attention after the Supreme Court administration, under CJI Gavai, wrote to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on July 1, requesting the immediate repossession of the Krishna Menon Marg bungalow. CJI Chandrachud had later explained that his extended stay was due to the difficulty of finding a home that could meet the special needs of his two daughters, who have a rare medical condition.
CJI Gavai made these comments at the farewell ceremony of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, organised by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA). Praising Justice Dhulia as “a very warm person” who had dedicated his career to the judiciary, Gavai noted that Dhulia would be among the few judges to vacate their official residence immediately after retirement. Gavai assured that he too would move out within the permitted time, adding with a touch of humour that although he might not have a house ready “till 24th November,” he would still shift as required. He also mentioned plans to spend more time with Justice Dhulia after retirement, even joining him for golf.
Justice Dhulia, who is set to retire on August 9, shared his judicial philosophy, saying, “Everything that is for the benefit of a human being is my judicial philosophy.” Reflecting on his 2022 dissent in the Karnataka hijab ban case, he clarified that he was not defending the hijab itself, but rather the right of women to choose to wear it. “That was the difference,” he explained.
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