In a move that has raised eyebrows across political and legal circles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud’s residence for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations has come under scrutiny.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has voiced concerns about the meeting, suggesting it could potentially cast doubts on judicial impartiality. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut questioned the appropriateness of the interaction, stating, “Ganpati festival is here, people visit each other’s homes. I don’t have information on how many homes the Prime Minister has visited so far. There are many places in Delhi, including our Maharashtra Sadan and Maharashtra Mandal.”
Raut further expressed apprehension about the meeting’s implications: “But the Prime Minister visited the Chief Justice’s residence, and together they performed the aarti. Our concern is whether the guardians of the Constitution should meet political leaders in this manner, as it raises doubts in people’s minds.”
The controversy has taken on additional significance due to an ongoing legal case involving the Uddhav Thackeray group, which is challenging the Maharashtra speaker’s decision to recognize CM Eknath Shinde’s faction as the real Shiv Sena. Raut suggested that CJI Chandrachud should recuse himself from this case, saying, “Our case is pending before Chandrachud Sahib, and we have doubts about its fairness. Since the Prime Minister, who is a party in our case, met the Chief Justice at his home, the Chief Justice should recuse himself from this case.”
The meeting has also drawn criticism from legal professionals. Senior advocate and former Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising called for the Supreme Court Bar Association to condemn the visit.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan expressed his concerns on social media, stating, “Shocking that CJI Chandrachud allowed Modi to visit him at his residence for a private meeting. Sends a very bad signal to the judiciary which is tasked with the responsibility of protecting fundamental right of citizens from the executive & ensuring that the govt acts within bounds of Constitution.”
Bhushan added, “That is why there has to be an arms length separation between the executive & judiciary.”
The Prime Minister’s visit to CJI Chandrachud’s residence, where he participated in Ganpati Puja, has reignited debates about the separation of powers and the importance of maintaining the independence of the judiciary.
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