CJI DY Chandrachud Reacts To PM Modi’s Visit (image: x.com/113_vishnu)
Reacting to the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to his residence for Ganapati Puja, CJI DY Chandrachud on Monday said that there was “absolutely nothing wrong” in it and he requested the public to trust judges. It was while speaking at an event conducted by The Indian Express, he made the following statements while a question being raised on the political context of the Puja photographs with Prime Minister.
“The Prime Minister visited my home for a purely private event, it was not a public event. Well, I do feel that, you know, there was absolutely nothing wrong for the simple reason that these are continuing meetings between the Judiciary and the Executive, even at a social level,” The Indian Express quotes, as Chandrachud is saying.
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PM Modi visited CJI residence September this year to attend the Ganpati Puja celebrations. The videos of the CJI and his wife, Kalpana Das, welcoming PM Modi into their home and Modi performing Ganpati aarti went viral on X. During the celebrations, Modi is seen wearing a traditional Maharashtrian cap.
Code of Conduct for Judges:
“A Judge Should practice a degree of aloofness consistent with the dignity of his office.
There should be no act or omission by him which is unbecoming of the high office he occupies and the public esteem in which that office is held”
Violation of Code pic.twitter.com/kNjuMosbgZ— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) September 12, 2024
Following Modi’s visit, the opposition parties including the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) had raised concerning regarding potential conflicts of interest.
He also said at the event, “The fact of the matter is, as I said, deals are never cut like this (during such interactions). So please, trust us, we are not there to cut deals,” The Indian Express reports.
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Chandrachud had addressed the controversy even before. In October, while speaking at the Loksatta lecture series in Mumbai, he said that there is maturity in judges to not discuss any judicial matters during such visits.
“There is enough maturity among judges of constitutional courts and the heads of the executive to firmly keep aside judicial matters out of the purview of any discussion.”
