On November 8, 2024, the Supreme Court of India witnessed an extraordinary day as Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud presided over 45 cases on his final working day before retiring on November 10. The ceremonial bench session, which was live-streamed, saw participation from Justice Manoj Mishra, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, and numerous senior lawyers, along with Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who is set to become the 51st CJI.
Appointed to the Supreme Court on May 13, 2016, Justice Chandrachud had an impactful tenure, being part of 1,274 benches and authoring 612 decisions, the highest among the current justices. His final day highlighted his unwavering commitment to justice, handling a wide array of cases which showcased the breadth of his judicial reach and the efficiency of the court under his leadership.
During his two-year term as CJI, Justice Chandrachud was pivotal in landmark rulings concerning Article 370, the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, and other significant issues like the One Rank-One Pension scheme, madrasa regulations, and the Sabarimala temple dispute. His final day’s marathon session was a fitting end to a tenure marked by substantial legal contributions.
Colleagues and dignitaries shared their views on his tenure. Attorney General A.R. Venkataramani commended his fairness in the courtroom. Supreme Court Bar Association President Kapil Sibal noted his unique patience and outreach efforts, which brought lesser-heard communities into judicial consideration. Abhishek Manu Singhvi highlighted Justice Chandrachud’s adoption of modern technology in the courtroom, jokingly inquiring about the secret behind his youthful appearance—a topic of discussion even as far abroad as Australia.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna acknowledged the challenging legacy left by Justice Chandrachud, noting the advancements in courtroom technology initiated during his term, such as enhanced e-filing systems, paperless submissions, and comprehensive live tracking of pending cases.
Justice Chandrachud’s commitment to transparency and technological innovation was evident in his updates to the Supreme Court’s infrastructure and procedures, including redesigning judicial symbols and updating seating arrangements for judges to reflect uniformity.
