Outgoing Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday said his shoulders are broad enough to accept all criticism as he believed in transparency in public life and the dogma that “sunlight is the best disinfectant”.Justice Chandrachud, who is the 50th CJI, also said he is probably one of the most trolled individuals and judges across the system. He then took a swipe at the social media trollers and said in a lighter vein that they will become “unemployed” from Monday.
The CJI made these remarks on his last working day in office.
Justice Chandrachud stepped into the shoes of his illustrious father Y V Chandrachud, who served as the longest CJI between 1978 and 1985, on November 9, 2022 and Friday was his last working day as he would superannuate on November 10, a Sunday.
“I only say this, I’m sure all of you are aware of the amount of trolling that I have received. I am probably one of the most trolled individuals and judges across the system….But on a lighter vein, I’m just wondering what will happen from Monday, because all those who trolled me will be unemployed.”
Heading a four-judge ceremonial bench, also comprising CJI-designate Sanjiv Khanna, earlier in the day, Justice Chandrachud turned emotional and philosophical and said all human beings are pilgrims and have to leave after a point.
“We are here as pilgrims, birds for short passage of time, do our work and leave….but the work which we do can leave a mark in the institution. Of course, none of us is that important to feel that the Court will not survive without me. Great judges have come here in the past and passed on the baton to the succeeding generations…in that way, we sustain the institution, with different people with diverse viewpoints coming to the Court and passing the baton along,” he told the court.