- October 27, 2024
‘Do Not Mean Some Deal Struck’: Chandrachud On Meetings Between CJI And Government Head – News18
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CJI Chandrachud noted that during the meetings with the Chief Justice, the heads of government always stick to the ‘political maturity’.
CJI DY Chandrachud (Image: PTI/File)
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said on Saturday that meetings between the heads of government, whether at the state or central level, and the Chief Justice of the High Court or Supreme Court do not imply that any deal has been made.
He noted that during the meetings with the Chief Justice, the heads of government always stick to the ‘political maturity’ and never talks about a pending case.
Addressing a ‘lecture series’ at the University of Mumbai, CJI Chandrachud said, “We do meet but that doesn’t mean that there is some deal cracked. We have to be in dialogue with the Chief Minister (CM) of the State because they will have to provide budgets for the Judiciary. And this budget is not for the judges. If we do not meet and only rely on letters our work won’t be done.”
“But when we meet, trust me, there’s a great deal of maturity in the political system and in those meetings, never in my experience, would a CM speak about a pending case,” the CJI was quoted as saying by legal news portal Live Law.
It comes after a recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to CJI Chandrachud’s residence for Ganpati Puja celebrations triggered a controversy.
The CJI further remarked that the administrative relationship between the court and the government is different from the judicial work which the judges do. And same thing operates at the central level, CJI Chandrachud emphasised.
“Administrative relationship between Supreme Court and the Government of the day is distinct from the judicial work done by the apex court. It is a tradition that the CM or the Chief Justice will meet each other on festivals or bereavement. But surely we must have the maturity to understand it has no bearing at all on our judicial work. We must understand that one will not ‘adjust’ anything in a meeting viewed by the public,” the CJI said.
Amid the row over PM Modi’s visit to CJI’s residence, opposition said that it might raise doubts about judicial impartiality in the minds of the people. The BJP responded, saying that the visit was restricted to Ganpati Puja celebrations, and it was a “part of our culture”.
