Contempt power not to protect judges from criticism, says CJI D Y Chandrachud
(This story originally appeared in on Nov 09, 2023)
NEW DELHI: The much-feared and criticised contempt of court powers were not meant to “protect a judge from criticism but to prevent individuals from interfering in dispensation of justice by courts”, CJI D Y Chandrachud told TOI as he spoke on a wide range of issues, on completing a year as head of the judiciary, and more than 23 years as a constitutional court judge.
Justice Chandrachud became CJI on November 9 last year and has one more year to go in the top post.
On completion of one year in office, CJI D Y Chandrachud tellsDhananjay Mahapatra that Supreme Court judges are well insulated and unconcerned with the vicissitudes of everyday public perception while deciding cases. Excerpts:
What has been the experience as Chief Justice of one of the largest democracies in the world?
The scale and diversity of India makes it truly unique. The Supreme Court, despite sitting in New Delhi, deals with legal issues arising from every corner of the country. An interesting by-product of our Constitution is that although we have a federal system of governance, our judiciary is unitary. Thus, appeals from across the entire country work their way up to the Supreme Court.
Further, the court is both an appellate court and a constitutional court. As Chief Justice, I am acutely conscious that this requires a balance, between deciding the cases of ordinary citizens on the one hand, and answering important constitutional questions that concern the nation as a whole, on the other. To meet these demands, we are increasing the rate at which the court hears cases, while also continually hearing crucial constitutional cases.
As Chief Justice, not only do I have to decide claims from
