The 50-year-old was due to retire next week, November 10, and took the opportunity to deliver judgments while in the Supreme court bench. During his speech in a full courtroom Justice Chandrachud together with his successor Justice Sanjiv Khanna referred to themselves and all other judges as ‘birds of a short passage of time’. The candidate had candidly mentioned the difficulties of combating revelation, particularly on social media, and agreed, “I made my private and public life completely exposed… because I think that the sunlight is a good sanitizer.”
While deeming his official send-off by the Supreme Court Bar Association, he made massive points about transparency, which means embracing public scorn as part of the judge’s duty. Justice Chandrachud dismissed such rumors, explaining that no one in the Collegium had any personal animosity, and discussion was always in the interest of the institution only without Room for bias.
Reflecting on his journey from a law student to Chief Justice, he expressed gratitude for the privilege of serving the country, emphasizing the collective mission of the judiciary: “It is not about you; it is about the university and what we are fighting for, which is justice.”
Justice Chandrachud thanked fellow justices especially Justices Pardiwala and Misra and reassured that he believed in the individual of Justice Khanna, saying that he was ready to say Justice Khanna was a man of justice. In expressing gratitude to his colleagues and everyone who works in the court, he asked them to forgive him if he offended anyone during his term, and he stressed that the job of a judge is to change the lives of ordinary people.
