Kumar Bahukhandi
New Delhi : CJI DY Chandrachud 11 Historical Decisions: Today on Friday November 8 , 2024 is the last working day of the 50th Chief Justice of India, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. CJI Chandrachud is retiring on Sunday November 10 , 2024 . However, due to the Supreme Court holiday on 9 and 10 November, his last working day is on 8 November. On the last day of his working day, CJI Chandrachud gave a historic verdict on the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University. The Supreme Court has retained the minority status of the university for the time being, overturning the decision of the Allahabad High Court.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s tenure will be known for historical decisions. He gave many important decisions or was a part of the bench in many cases. Historical decisions include many important decisions including construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Article 370 and gay marriage. These historical decisions make him special from other Chief Justices. So let’s know, 11 historical decisions of DY Chandrachud…
1) Chandrachud was in the bench that decided on Ram Mandir
The decision paving the way for the construction of a temple on Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya came in 2019. This important decision was given by a bench of 5 judges, which also included DY Chandrachud. He was not the Chief Justice at that time but was part of the bench that gave the unanimous decision. This decision was so important that it changed the history of the country for 500 years. The construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya started only after that, where the idol of Ramlala was consecrated on January , this year.
2) Important decision on Article 370
Similarly, the bench led by the Chief Justice had conducted a long hearing on the petitions filed against the removal of Article 370. The court had considered the removal of Article 370 as under the Constitution. In this case, the Chief Justice had said that the judges had taken the decision while staying within the ambit of the Constitution and the law.
3) Said no to gay marriage
Chandrachud’s bench also heard the demand to legalise gay marriage in India. However, he refused to approve it, saying that such decisions should be left to the Parliament. He said that legislative action may be required in future for social changes.
4) Electoral bonds abolished in one go
The Government of India had started electoral bonds for funding political parties. All parties including BJP and Congress had earned crores of rupees through this system. But the bench headed by the Chief Justice had rejected it. The bench said that this system is not transparent.
5) Minority status of Aligarh Muslim University maintained
In a historic decision given on his last working day, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud decided to maintain the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University. Justice DY said that AMU is a minority institution. Under Article 30 of the Constitution, this religious community has the right to establish and run educational institutions. Four judges including the CJI have given a unanimous decision while three judges gave a dissent note. After this, the CJI gave the right to decide on the status of AMU to a bench of 3 judges.
6) Entry of women in Sabarimala temple
The Supreme Court bench which gave the verdict against the ban on the entry of menstruating women in the famous Sabarimala temple of Kerala also included Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. While giving the verdict, Chandrachud had given his opinion that doing so is unconstitutional. Many articles of the Constitution prohibit this and it is wrong to continue such a practice.
7) Took on the government on the collegium system
Chandrachud provided important insights into the National Judicial Commission vs Collegium debate. He defended the transparency of the collegium system, highlighting the measures taken to maintain its openness while evaluating the careers of judges for recommendations to the Supreme Court. He said that we have taken such steps that the collegium system remains transparent. He said that while recommending a judge to be brought to the Supreme Court, we look at how his career was in the High Court.
8) Changing religion is a right to privacy
DY Chandrachud was also a part of the bench that gave the verdict in Kerala’s famous Hadiya marriage case. The bench said that if a girl is an adult, then it is her right to decide whom to marry. Apart from this, if she has changed her religion voluntarily, then no one can object to that either. The court had declared changing religion as a right to privacy.
9) What did SC say on sexual harassment at workplace
The bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud had also given its verdict on sexual harassment at workplace. The bench said that such a thing is a violation of the fundamental rights of women. The court had said that how will this encourage women to work.
10) What did SC say in Delhi Government vs Centre
Dispute over transfer posting of Delhi Government administration and officers and whose decision will be final. There was a long hearing in the Supreme Court regarding this as well. On this, the court had said that in such cases, only the elected government of Delhi has the right to decide, which come under its purview.
11) Arnab Goswami was given bail
Justice DY Chandrachud had also given a big decision regarding the arrest of senior journalist Arnab Goswami. The court had granted him bail and said that it is a right. Along with this, the bench said that private courts should take a decision in this regard. They should decide on bail applications in time.
