Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has responded to concerns over his extended stay at the official CJI residence months after retirement.
He explained that the delay in moving out is due to the medical needs of his 2 daughters, both affected by a rare neuromuscular condition.
“We have actually packed up our luggage… some of it has already gone to the new house,” Chandrachud said, adding that his family will relocate as soon as the alternate accommodation is ready.
Medical Condition Necessitates Delay
Justice Chandrachud retired on November 8, 2024, but his residence at 5, Krishna Menon Marg has remained occupied since then, attracting criticism after the Supreme Court administration asked the Centre on July 1 to reclaim the property.
He revealed that his daughters, Priyanka and Mahi, suffer from Nemaline myopathy—a rare genetic disorder that severely weakens skeletal muscles. This condition demands special care, including accessibility and hygiene standards, making the family’s housing needs very specific.
“They are special children and they have special needs,” he noted. A trained nurse assists the daughters round the clock, and their home must be wheelchair-friendly. Reflecting on the challenges, Chandrachud said, “This is not a luxury for us. My elder daughter was in the ICU for 44 days in 2021, and she now has a tracheostomy tube.”
Post-Retirement Extensions Are Not Uncommon
The former CJI pointed out that staying on in government housing after retirement is not unprecedented. His predecessors, Justices U U Lalit and N V Ramana, also received post-retirement accommodations—Lalit on Safdarjung Road and Ramana on Tughlaq Road.
Rules & Communications Regarding Residence
The Supreme Court’s letter to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs dated July 1 noted that the allowed six-month extension for retired CJIs under Rule 3B of the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Rules, 2022, had expired. However, the official CJI residence is reserved solely for the sitting Chief Justice.
Chandrachud explained that after retiring, he informed his successor Justice Sanjiv Khanna about moving back to his previous home at 14, Tughlaq Road. Khanna, however, preferred he continue staying at Krishna Menon Marg to avoid occupying the official residence.
He sought extensions to vacate, initially until April 30 and later until June 30, due to difficulty finding a suitable home with necessary accessibility features. The replacement house had been unused for two years and was under renovation, with completion expected by the end of June.
Initial Stay At Previous Residence As CJI
Chandrachud recalled that even after becoming Chief Justice, he initially stayed at his old residence on Tughlaq Road for his family’s comfort. “But a few months in, I realized that the place was too small for official functions. I shifted to Krishna Menon Marg about a year after taking office,” he said.
Court’s Housing Demands
Sources from the Supreme Court revealed that the request to reclaim the CJI residence also stems from housing needs of the 33 sitting judges, as the Court is nearly at full strength with 34 judges.
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