Ex-CJI Chandrachud to vacate bungalow soon, cites daughters’ health issues

Former CJI DY Chandrachud responds to delay in vacating his govt bungalow, citing his daughters’ rare disease. Belongings are packed, shifting soon. SC rules allow 6 months post-retirement stay.

New Delhi: Former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud's response has now come to the controversy over not vacating the government bungalow, reports Dynamite News correspondent.

The Supreme Court administration had written a letter to the central government saying that the former CJI has been living in the government residence for more than the stipulated time limit and the bungalow has not been vacated yet, so he should be asked to vacate the bungalow immediately.

Now former CJI Chandrachud has clarified this. He has said that "All our belongings have been packed; only the things of daily use are outside. We will shift from here soon. We will vacate this bungalow within a maximum of 10 days or two weeks."

Why did not former CJI Sanjeev Khanna take the residence?

Former CJI Chandrachud was allotted Bungalow No. 5 on Krishna Menon Marg in Delhi, in which he has been living since his retirement in November 2024.

After his retirement, Justice Sanjeev Khanna became the new Chief Justice, but he did not take the residence because his tenure is short and he felt that the process of shifting and then vacating soon would be difficult.

Shifting delayed due to a rare disease of his daughters

Explaining the reason for the delay in vacating the bungalow, Chandrachud said that all his belongings are packed; only some essential furniture is left, which has to be taken to the new house by truck. He will soon shift to the new government residence at Teen Murti Marg, where he can stay for a maximum of 6 months.

He also said that a major reason for the delay is the rare disease of both his daughters. Chandrachud and his wife, Kalpana Das, have adopted two daughters named Priyanka and Mahi, whose health is not good. Therefore, he is getting the new house prepared according to the needs of the daughters, due to which it is taking time.

What are the rules?

According to the rules, after retirement under the Supreme Court Judge Rules, 2022, the Chief Justice gets a Type VII residence rent-free for 6 months.

But the residence at Krishna Menon Marg falls in the Type VIII category, in which special permission is required to live. Chandrachud had to vacate the house by April 30, but informally he was given time till May 31.

Even after this, when the house was not vacated, the Supreme Court administration wrote a letter to the Central Government on July 1.