Justice Kaul accuses former CJI Chandrachud of government deference
· India · Times of India, India Today
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul alleges in his book that ex-CJI D Y Chandrachud was overly deferential to the government on judicial appointments, including withdrawing a case after pressure. Kaul claims he was prevented from hearing petitions to re-examine PMLA provisions and that Chandrachud asked whether he should telephone the government before collegium picks. Reacting, Justice Chandrachud said there was never a dissent among collegium members on any name. Sources said resolutions for SC appointments during Chandrachud's tenure were unanimous, signed by all members without a single dissent. In November 2023 a bench of Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia pulled up the government for pick‑and‑choose policies and asked why four Gujarat HC judges and two Sikh lawyers were not transferred as recommended; that case was taken away and has not been listed in three years. New Delhi is the location of the dispute.
Why it matters
The accusations could fuel debate over the independence of judicial appointments and the influence of the executive on the Supreme Court, affecting public confidence in the judiciary. They also revive scrutiny of specific collegium decisions, including the transfer of judges from Gujarat HC and the appointment of Sikh lawyers for Punjab and Haryana HC, and may prompt calls for greater transparency. If substantiated, the claims could lead to reforms aimed at insulating the collegium from politica
Read the original report — Times of India
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