Justice DY Chandrachud appointed as Next Chief Justice Of India

The President of India has appointed Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud as the Chief Justice of India effective from November 9. He will take oath on November 9, a day after incumbent CJI Justice Uday Umesh Lalit demits office on attaining the age of 65.

Justice Chandrachud will be the Chief Justice of India for two years, compared to Justice Lalit’s brief 74-day term.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju congratulated Justice Chandrachud on his appointment as the next CJI.

“In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, Hon’ble President appoints Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud, Judge, Supreme Court as the Chief Justice of India with effect from 9th November, 22,” Rijiju tweeted.

Justice Chandrachud is renowned for his liberal and progressive rulings, the most recent of which upheld unmarried women’s right to an abortion up to 24 weeks in gestation. He was a member of the Constitution Benches that oversaw the decriminalisation of consenting homosexuality and the recognition of the right to privacy under Article 21. He was a member of the group that supported women of all ages having the freedom to join the Sabarimala shrine. The five-judge panel that rendered a decision in the Ayodhya-Babri Masjid dispute had Justice Chandrachud as a member.