Why has the government bungalow not been vacated even after retirement? Former CJI DY Chandrachud explained the reason
On the question of vacating the government bungalow, former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has said that there has been a precedent that government bungalows have been allotted to former Chief Justices and former Justices for a few months and years. He said this after the Supreme Court wrote a letter to the Central Government to take back the bungalow. He is going to shift from 5 Krishna Menon Marg bungalow to the government allotted bungalow. The bungalow which has been allotted by the government is being renovated by the PWD and it has been told that it will take two to three weeks. Both his daughters are special care children, so they need a house according to their convenience and there has been a problem in getting such a house.
When did he come to the government bungalow 5 Krishna Menon Marg
Former Chief Justice Chandrachud told NBT that when he took oath as a Supreme Court Justice on 13 May 2016, initially he stayed in UP Sadan till December 2016. After December 2016, he lived in transit accommodation at 14 Tughlaq Road. This house is small and is given at the time of transit. However, he lived in this house with his wife and two daughters continuously till November 2023. Although he had become the Chief Justice of India in November 2022, but then he lived in the same small house and he had no problem. But many times the judges and ambassadors of the International Court come to meet him in that house, so he started feeling the house small and then he came to the government bungalow 5 Krishna Menon Marg, fixed for the Chief Justice of India.
The children are special children, did not get a house according to convenience
He told that during the tenure of two years, he lived here for the last one year. Two weeks before retirement, he told the then Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna that he should also be shifted to 14 Tughlaq Road house after retirement. He wants to vacate the Chief Justice’s bungalow. But the then Chief Justice Khanna said that he wants to live in his own bungalow and you (Justice Chandrachud) should stay there. Earlier, time till 30 April was given. But in the meantime, on 28 April, he wrote a letter to the Chief Justice and said that his children are special children and there is a problem in getting a rented house according to their convenience, so some time should be given.
When is the renovation going on in the new bungalow
Meanwhile, the Government of India has allotted a government house for former Chief Justice Chandrachud in Teen Murti Marg area. But since it was an old house, the renovation work of it was to be done by the PWD and that is going on. The former CJI said, ‘We cannot get the renovation work of the house done ourselves. That work is done by the government department. During this time, I also verbally requested Chief Justice BR Gavai to give time till 30 June. The government bungalow is expected to be ready during this time.’
The former CJI said that in the meantime, two weeks ago, the Registrar of the Supreme Court came to meet him and asked when the house could be vacated, so we told that according to the PWD, the government house would be ready in two-three weeks. After that the Registrar left. But in the meantime this letter was written to the Central Government.
Told about the previous situation
Former Chief Justice Chandrachud said that earlier also there has been a precedent that retired Chief Justices and Justices have been allowed to live in government bungalows according to their circumstances. Former Chief Justice UU Lalit later lived in the bungalow on Akbar Road for six months. At the same time, Justice NV Ramana, who retired from the post of Chief Justice, was also given time to live in the bungalow on Tughlaq Road for two years. There are many other examples as well.
Justice Chandrachud said that his daughter had become very ill while going to Shimla three years ago. Anyway, both the girls are special care children. The girl undergoes physiotherapy and a house has been built like an ICU. The girl is undergoing continuous treatment at AIIMS. Therefore it is necessary for them to stay in this area. The government bungalow allotted to them will take two-three weeks to be renovated and as soon as they get the bungalow from the government, they will shift to it.
