Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court administration has written to the Centre, urging it to ensure that the official residence of the Chief Justice of India is vacated by former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, who has continued to occupy the bungalow for nearly eight months after his retirement. The unusual step highlights a housing crunch for sitting judges of the top court.
Housing Crunch and Lapsed Deadlines
According to sources, four Supreme Court judges are currently without official accommodation, with three living in transit apartments and one in a state guest house. The apex court administration, in a July 1 letter to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, stressed the urgent need for the 5, Krishna Menon Marg bungalow to be returned to the court’s housing pool. Justice Chandrachud retired on November 10, 2024. As per rules, a retired CJI can retain such a residence for a maximum of six months, a deadline which expired on May 10, 2025. He was granted a further extension until May 31, which has also lapsed, prompting the administration to ask the ministry to “take possession… without any further delay”.
Personal Circumstances Cited for Delay
Responding to the development, Justice Chandrachud stated that he did not wish to overstay and that the delay was due to personal circumstances, about which the court administration was kept informed. He cited the special needs of his two daughters, which required him to find appropriate accommodation. He said that an alternative government bungalow has been allotted but it is currently uninhabitable and undergoing repairs. “Most of my items are packed. I will shift as soon as they are done. It’s a matter of a few days,” he said, clarifying he had spoken to current CJI B.R. Gavai and assured him he would move out as soon as possible. The situation was enabled in part because Justice Chandrachud’s two successors, former CJI Sanjiv Khanna and the incumbent CJI Gavai, opted not to move into the official residence.
