Dr Chandrachud said laws are often products of their time but can outlast the social conditions that shaped them. In such cases, courts must determine whether those laws still remain relevant.
Dr Chandrachud speaks at the launch of Kavitha Rameshwar’s book 'They Created a Nation…' in Chennai (Dynamite News)
Chennai: The 50th Chief justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the Constitution does not assume that power is justified merely because it follows procedure emphasising that the courts must ensure state actions uphold dignity and justice.
Dr Chandrachud was speaking at the launch of advocate N Kavitha Rameshwar's book ‘They Created a Nation: The Omnipresence of Due Process in the Indian Constitution' at ITC Grand Chola here in Chennai.
He said that the courts around the world are often asking about the existing laws whether they are arbitrary or unjust in their effect. He said that a number of pending and even recent Supreme Court judgments on contemporary issues could significantly "reshape the way forward for India".
Chennai: Laws are often products of their time but can outlast the social conditions that shaped them. In such cases, courts must determine whether those laws still remain relevant - Dr DY Chandrachud#CJI #DYChandrachud #SupremeCourt #Chennai @RMahadevan #NKavithaRameshwar pic.twitter.com/g1w0ExKLBa
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) April 4, 2026
Dr Chandrachud said substantive due process has expanded through judicial interpretation to test the legality of laws but also their fairness and impact on people.
Dr Chandrachud said that "Laws are often products of their time but can outlast the social conditions that shaped them. In such cases, courts must determine whether those laws still remain relevant or just in the present context."
He said laws are often products of their time but can outlast the social conditions that shaped them. In such cases, courts must determine whether those laws still remain relevant.
Chennai: The doctrine of substantive due process remains fundamental to constitutional governance, ensuring that the exercise of democratic power is not only lawful but also fair and justified - Dr DY Chandrachud#CJI #DYChandrachud #SupremeCourt #BookLaunch #NKavithaRameshwar… pic.twitter.com/l8FurNWg2w
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) April 4, 2026
The former CJI said that the doctrine of substantive due process remains fundamental to constitutional governance, ensuring that the exercise of democratic power is not only lawful but also fair and justified.
He observed that constitutional adjudication should not be confined to the simplistic binary of judicial activism versus restraint. Rather, courts undertake a deeper esercise of assessing whether the exercise of state power is genuinely justified in light of its tangible impact on people’s lives.
The former CJI said the doctrine of substantive due process remains central to constitutional governance, ensuring that democratic power is not only lawfully exercised but also meaningfully justified.
